eBay find. :-)

quito · May 3, 2018

Saw this browsing eBay, it was being sold as a mini axe. I knew better.

I’ve never found one, I have wanted one for some time, they are hard to find so here it is.

a tie on atl atl weight.

Anyone else have have one or some?

choo · May 3, 2018

That's a really nice piece! Did you get a good deal on it? I don't have anything like that!

smokeythecat · May 3, 2018

That's a cool piece. What's the best technical term on it? I never found anything like it.

quito · May 3, 2018

choo said:
That's a really nice piece! Did you get a good deal on it? I don't have anything like that!

Thanks Choo!

I am very happy with what I gave for it.

quito · May 3, 2018

smokeythecat said:
That's a cool piece. What's the best technical term on it? I never found anything like it.

Technical term?

Its a counter weight for a throwing stick called an atl atl.

sheep.dog · May 3, 2018

nice! i love slingin darts with mine.

rock · May 3, 2018

How deep does that crack go? Its worth more than a ax. Nice find on it.

Charl · May 3, 2018

That is nice! Do you know where it was found?

I did buy one myself, back in the 90's, and unlike yourself, quito, I did not know what it was at the time, but bought it because it was a local piece. I believe it's slate...

In New England, the earliest atlatl weights are the tie-on weights, and they are Early Archaic. They are called bowtie atlatl weights, from their shape. I have a few crude examples from an Early Archaic site. This rudimentary bowtie is nothing but a conveniently shaped piece of shale, notched at the base, thinning on the opposite side, with one wing damaged. Yet I love it, because it is what it is, they are hard to find, and beggars can't be choosers.

quito · May 4, 2018

Good post charl! Excellent information!

this piece is from Utah.

hopefully now that I bought one, I’ll be finding one.

welsbury · May 4, 2018

I am curious if that piece is flat on one side? Nice pickup.

quito · May 4, 2018

welsbury said:
I am curious if that piece is flat on one side? Nice pickup.

It sure is.

welsbury · May 4, 2018

Very cool, they are a scarce item. You would think as long as they were used more would be found.

quito · May 4, 2018

welsbury said:
Very cool, they are a scarce item. You would think as long as they were used more would be found.

I have a feeling many are over looked by artifact hunters, since they don’t fit the typical form of something usually sought after. And often, any groove is full of dirt if in the field.
And then like this piece, being offered as a mini axe

Some just don’t know what they have.

Tnmountains · May 5, 2018

quito said:
I have a feeling many are over looked by artifact hunters, since they don’t fit the typical form of something usually sought after. And often, any groove is full of dirt if in the field.
And then like this piece, being offered as a mini axe Some just don’t know what they have.

I agree as I have some items that I have no idea what they are but brought them home anyways. Often we say its a knife when it could be an atlatl dart. I am ready to jump into a few rock shelter digs.

quito · May 5, 2018

rock said:
How deep does that crack go? Its worth more than a ax. Nice find on it.

The crack is not deep or a concern. The piece is very sound.

Depends on the ax.

jamus peek · May 7, 2018

Charl said:
That is nice! Do you know where it was found?

I did buy one myself, back in the 90's, and unlike yourself, quito, I did not know what it was at the time, but bought it because it was a local piece. I believe it's slate...

View attachment 1586112

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In New England, the earliest atlatl weights are the tie-on weights, and they are Early Archaic. They are called bowtie atlatl weights, from their shape. I have a few crude examples from an Early Archaic site. This rudimentary bowtie is nothing but a conveniently shaped piece of shale, notched at the base, thinning on the opposite side, with one wing damaged. Yet I love it, because it is what it is, they are hard to find, and beggars can't be choosers.

View attachment 1586116

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Man Charl you have a lot of info. I am really curious as to where the illustrations came from. I find atlatl weights big and small. I usually only look for obvious workmanship but I found a piece of quartz that looked like it could of been used as an atlatl weight that matches the look of the one in the illustration from the east. I find a lot of worked quartz at this site from hammerstones, pestles discoidals. Here is a pic of the quartz piece that fits the description.

Also nice ebay find Quito.

Here are some pics of what could be atlatl counter weights a little creek worn.

The bottoms slightly rounded so the ends are elevated.

The first one has a string line groove along the keel. It's shallow and not the most visible. The second 2 are pecked out on the bottom somewhat hollowed and well polished. These are just a few that I have found.

They are not the best examples and I'm just throwing them out there.

southfork · May 7, 2018

jamus peek said:
Man Charl you have a lot of info. I am really curious as to where the illustrations came from. I find atlatl weights big and small. I usually only look for obvious workmanship but I found a piece of quartz that looked like it could of been used as an atlatl weight that matches the look of the one in the illustration from the east. I find a lot of worked quartz at this site from hammerstones, pestles discoidals. Here is a pic of the quartz piece that fits the description.

View attachment 1587529

View attachment 1587531

Also nice ebay find Quito.

Here are some pics of what could be atlatl counter weights a little creek worn.

The bottoms slightly rounded so the ends are elevated.
View attachment 1587536
View attachment 1587537
View attachment 1587538
View attachment 1587539
View attachment 1587540
View attachment 1587541
View attachment 1587542

The first one has a string line groove along the keel. It's shallow and not the most visible. The second 2 are pecked out on the bottom somewhat hollowed and well polished. These are just a few that I have found.

They are not the best examples and I'm just throwing them out there.

I know my eyes are not as good as they once were but I'm seeing rocks.

jamus peek · May 7, 2018

They look polished to me and nicely shaped just like atlatl weights I have seen. They lack a groove but as the literature above states only the first ones were grooved. They all sit like the last pic and found in close proxitimity along with fairly nice artifacts. With that said I respect your opinion south fork and understand from your vantage point they just look like rocks.