Celt? and some uniface tools

Charmin

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Came across some more of my Grandpa's artifacts that I don't think I've shown you all :icon_scratch:?
There are some uniface tools (thanks to one of thirty7's previous posts, I now know what these are :D) , a big knife and a celt.
The celt is made of a smooth black material--is this granite? and is 5 1/2" long. Were these used in warfare or everyday tools? If it was for warfare it would darn sure be a "scull-cracker"!! It's so heavy! Mom said she thought grandpa found this on a plowed field next to the Caney River.
The big knife(?) is almost 5" long. I have a question about this---is the "cut-out" part [on the side]there for a purpose or do you think its just a big chip? It fits in your hand perfectly and you can rest your thumb on that cut-out part--that's why I thought it might be a knife. I still have a hard time telling the difference between a "pre-form" and a "knife". On one of the first frames I posted of grandpa's stuff, there's another knife that has a similar shape and I took a picture of these two together(last pic). Mom said grandpa found that one with some bison bones! And he often thought it was used to skin out or cut the meat off the animal!! [I so wish he had brought some of those bones home!!!]
Here's some pictures---hope you enjoy and thanks for looking!
Kind regards~~sandcreek4
 

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Upvote 0
ho Sand creek4,
that black celt is amazing!!
My question is on the scrapers,
are the ones on the left made of jasper?
I have that material in the areas where I look and farm, but only where the sites are,
so it must have been carried in to the site from another location just like the valuable commodity of Knife River flint
I think that Knife River Flint and the different colors of jasper along with agate, and agatized wood were
among the very first export commodities in the dakotas
does any one know what it could have been traded for?
maybe copper,or obsidian, or some gem stones and shells?? maybe I should start a different post for this discussion
Thanks
 

I would say yes to all the above. How did you miss that Celt? It is beautiful. I am sure to be corrected but a uniface was the quickest tool to make and most times the sharpest. I would also say that if it feels like it was made to fit in your hand and has places for your fingers and palm to fit it was made that way. They made many tools that were ergonomic. They had the skill to create something that felt good and could be used in the task of large skinning and butchering. Skinning is easy its the butchering and hamming out that takes some time.
I love the tools and you seem to have inherited a wonderful collection of them. Each uniface was made for a task. Fun to imagine what that task may have been. I think this winter I may skin a deer with a very small flake and then make a post on here ; )

Hope your Grand Dads collection holds many more surprises.

TnMountains
 

larson1951 said:
ho Sand creek4,
that black celt is amazing!!
My question is on the scrapers,
are the ones on the left made of jasper?
I have that material in the areas where I look and farm, but only where the sites are,
so it must have been carried in to the site from another location just like the valuable commodity of Knife River flint
I think that Knife River Flint and the different colors of jasper along with agate, and agatized wood were
among the very first export commodities in the dakotas
does any one know what it could have been traded for?
maybe copper,or obsidian, or some gem stones and shells?? maybe I should start a different post for this discussion
Thanks
Hi larson--I don't think its jasper :icon_scratch:--not sure if jasper is found here in the Oklahoma/Kansas area where grandpa found these things. I'm still trying to learn all the lithics in this area! :wink: :D .
Thanks for your comments and you have some amazing stuff, too! Really enjoy looking at all your bone artifacts :thumbsup: and you've certainly been blessed with finding some unusual pieces! Those carved game pieces you have are my favorite!!
Kind Regards~~sandcreek4
TnMountains said:
I would say yes to all the above. How did you miss that Celt? It is beautiful. I am sure to be corrected but a uniface was the quickest tool to make and most times the sharpest. I would also say that if it feels like it was made to fit in your hand and has places for your fingers and palm to fit it was made that way. They made many tools that were ergonomic. They had the skill to create something that felt good and could be used in the task of large skinning and butchering. Skinning is easy its the butchering and hamming out that takes some time.
I love the tools and you seem to have inherited a wonderful collection of them. Each uniface was made for a task. Fun to imagine what that task may have been. I think this winter I may skin a deer with a very small flake and then make a post on here ; )

Hope your Grand Dads collection holds many more surprises.

TnMountains
I don't know why I didn't post this before TnMountains! It was with these other things and I had them in a box and I guess I just forgot about them :tard:. I've got to get a good frame/case to put them in!!!
You're right about those tools being made for a certain task and I can imagine some Indian woman saying to her husband "Honey, notch me out a place on this knife so it'll be easier for me to use !" ::).
I hope you do a post on skinning out a deer---that would be very interesting to see :thumbsup:.
Thank you for your comments!
Kind regards~~~sandcreek4
 

Muddy Feet said:
Nice stuff, I really like that celt.
Thanks Muddy Feet! Glad you enjoyed these artifacts!
regards~sandcreek4
 

that celt is fantastic! Thanks for the look.
Chuck
 

ohio said:
that celt is fantastic! Thanks for the look.
Chuck
Thanks Chuck!
Kind regards~~sandcreek
 

Nice artifacts sandcreek. I really like all those uniface knives and tools, nice examples and materials. The polished celt is museum quality imo, really nice example. have a good one.
 

thirty7 said:
Nice artifacts sandcreek. I really like all those uniface knives and tools, nice examples and materials. The polished celt is museum quality imo, really nice example. have a good one.
Thanks thirty7! And thanks for helping educate me on those uniface tools :thumbsup:.
The celt is more beautiful in person, the pics. we took don't do it justice--its sooooo smooth. It just amazes me the the Indians could polish something that well.
Kind regards~~sandcreek
 

Pinellas Man said:
Wow! :o Those are some fine tools Sandcreek. Thanks for sharing.
You're very welcome, Pinellas Man--glad you enjoyed them!
kind regards~~sandcreek4
 

im still trying to find one of those.thanks for sharing. jamey
 

jamey said:
im still trying to find one of those.thanks for sharing. jamey
jamey--This was always one of my grandpa's favorite artifacts.
I still wonder how the Indians made it so smooth?
Glad you enjoyed the pics!
kind regards~~sandcreek4
 

I always find tool artifacts very interesting and the celt is truly an outstanding piece. Really enjoyed seeing them. Very nice...
 

buckshot said:
I always find tool artifacts very interesting and the celt is truly an outstanding piece. Really enjoyed seeing them. Very nice...
Thanks buckshot! Glad you enjoyed the pictures!
regards~~sandcreek4
 

greg-rocks said:
great artifacts!
Thanks greg-rocks!
regards~~sandcreek4
 

shopdog said:
IM LOVEN THE CELT AND THOSE TOOLS ARE KILLER
Thanks for the comments shopdog! Glad you like the celt!
regards~~sandcreek4
 

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