Effigy or coincidence?

[-=METAL=-]

Hey guys,

I was just looking at this piece and thought it kind of looked like the profile of a human face. Likely? Unlikely? Any responses are appreciated, thanks in advance.

 

[southfork]

Just a quartz rock .

 

[-=METAL=-]

Sorry, but the rock has definitely been worked, not just a rock. If anything, it's a scraper, but definitely not just a rock. Thanks for the reply though!

 

[monsterrack]

It could be a tool of some type, quartz is hard to tell from a photo, but it is not an effigy. I don't want to be blunt but mother nature and a persons eyes can be a bad combo sometimes. HH

 

[uzd]

In order to peck,grind,scratch a small stone one must first facilitate a secure purchase in the off hand. Assuming a right-handed artist you should feel areas where material was removed to give left thumb and forefinger a firm grip. The land I grew up on was the site of a school the latter part of the 19th century and rock art was rural youths favorite activity. I've been challenged over the years to not only differentiate an artifact from a rock but also an effort by a Amerindian vs. talented farm kids. One such youth who sometime signs his work with Oz was an amazing artist. Due to the myriad materials used to express themselves I can often date them and the artifacts. I have many original native artifacts retouched by adolescents. 'Feel' apart from hi-res imagery plays the most critical part in lithic tool/art validation.

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[-=METAL=-]

So is there not really such a thing as knapped effigys?

 

[southfork]

I don't see anything worked just a rock or a real bad photo . Show some other views .

 

[-=METAL=-]

Here are some more pics Southfork. Appreciate the replies.


Sorry for the dirty fingers, I was just outside patching a tire

 

[southfork]

Its a lot thinner than I thought quartz is hard to get the lighting right maybe a tool the edge looks sharp .

 

[-=METAL=-]

It's sharpened all around. Comes from a place where almost every piece of quartz you find has at least one worked edge. I find wading river points almost every time I go there. I just thought the resemblance of the human profile might be intentional, but I wanted to see what people thought on here.

 

[old digger]

I personally do not see any significance that your item was purposely fashioned as an effigy. It is hard to tell on some quartz if it has been flaked.

 

[-=METAL=-]

I'm really shocked that you guys can't see the work from the pictures. I can say with 100% certainty that this piece has been flaked into the shape it is now. If people agree that it's not an effigy, I can believe that, but people telling me it hasn't even been worked is just incorrect. I'm going to take some shots in the sunlight today, hopefully that will help. I'll admit I am fairly new to this, but at this stage, I understand the concept of secondary flaking and retouch flaking from doing a bit of reading and seeing plenty of it in person. Flaked quartz doesn't really have as obvious an appearance as flaked flint.

Please don't take this as me being an @ hole though as I really do appreciate everyone's response. I'll get back here as soon as I can with some sunlit photos.

 

[-=METAL=-]

Here our some sunlit pics if it helps anyone to see the flaking.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

All I see is a piece of quartz.. It you take pictures of the sides that you say has been worked it might help, but nothing in the pictures you posted so far says it been worked including new pictures.

 

[-=METAL=-]

All I see is a piece of quartz.. It you take pictures of the sides that you say has been worked it might help, but nothing in the pictures you posted so far says it been worked including new pictures.

I'm surprised you can look at those pictures and not see the flaking, but I suppose I'll leave it at that. Thanks to everyone who responded.

 

[rock]

I have no doubt its a tool or scraper. Quartz does not always show on the comp screen as more than a flake or rock. I try to avoid posting quartz pieces unless it is real visible. I find quite a bit of quartzite tools that have a nice edge but just like my last post where nobody saw them for anything more than flakes. If you cant see it clearly don't post it is my new rule. Still no face on it though.

 

[-=METAL=-]

Thanks Rock Good rule to post by.

 

[yakker]

I second what Rock said. Quartz tools aren't very photogenic unless it's really obvious. And I do see the work on it. I find that sort of thing often around here in the land-o-quartz. No effigy. Good eye though

 

[ptsofnc]

I have no doubt its a tool or scraper. Quartz does not always show on the comp screen as more than a flake or rock. I try to avoid posting quartz pieces unless it is real visible. I find quite a bit of quartzite tools that have a nice edge but just like my last post where nobody saw them for anything more than flakes. If you cant see it clearly don't post it is my new rule. Still no face on it though.

Good advice.

 

[-=METAL=-]

Thanks Yakker. Mostly everything I find is quartz... posting is so tempting...