First Finds!!

fasttracker · Jul 3, 2009

Hey everyone, well I finally got out and it really paid off...I used google earth to find a neat field near me at the intersection of two creeks and drove over to find that it was just plowed (I knew the owner) Right off the bat this field was way different than the other few ive walked, it wasnt a rocky field.. the only rock id come across was flint chips! I started keeping all of them but my pockets filled pretty quick. I still didnt find an actual tool so i decided to drop into the creek. Thats when i notice a perfect strip of shells and rock about a 3 ft wide in an otherwise dirt bank about 5ft up from the water. At first I just wanted to get a few shells (they were huge!) but I thought it would be a good idea to scan the wall for chips. Well it paid off with the first actual tools ive found. I was wondering if I could get a time frame on them from someone I think the top middle is a blad or knife and the bottom left may be a preform, I dont know anything about lithics? I told myself i'd prolly move on to a different hobby after I found something but Im goin back there tomorrow

Tnmountains · Jul 3, 2009

You are on a village site. The shells were a main source of food. That shell line is their trash pit. It is where they dumped all their garbage which equals our treasure. I do not know your area but make sure the of the laws before digging off a creek or river especially in the shell.It was also their burial grounds in the shell,Most times its ok to surface hunt but not to dig. There should be pottery sherds in with that shell also.
Lokks like a broke tip and knife with some broke pre forms.
Great finds and thanks for sharing them. Let us know how you do. Hope this helps : )
TnMountains

pickaway · Jul 4, 2009

Nice finds... :thumbsup:

Cappy Z. · Jul 4, 2009

Yea, check the local laws etc. Then go back and get ALL the treasure.

Good Luck.

fasttracker · Jul 4, 2009

wow thanks tn I never would have put that together! :hello2:

This is pretty exciting i just assumed it was an older creek bed but that makes total sense with the shells. Im heading back after this post i'm bringing a spray bottle to wet down the layer, its kinda all one color from the dirt, I don't plan on digging into the bank. I was wondering who owns a creek if the field on the other side belongs to someone else cause thats the side the bank is on. Anyway i just remembered I found a few bone fragments in the bank too, n i def. dont want to dig up any people :-X

FT

Tnmountains · Jul 6, 2009

fasttracker said:
wow thanks tn I never would have put that together! This is pretty exciting i just assumed it was an older creek bed but that makes total sense with the shells. Im heading back after this post i'm bringing a spray bottle to wet down the layer, its kinda all one color from the dirt, I don't plan on digging into the bank. I was wondering who owns a creek if the field on the other side belongs to someone else cause thats the side the bank is on. Anyway i just remembered I found a few bone fragments in the bank too, n i def. dont want to dig up any people
FT

The shell shows a period of habitation where they had to clean up the camp site so to say. I imagine much of that layer will have charcoal,flint,rock,bone and pottery.Looks and see what has washed into the creek for years. Lots of times a lot of things are in the water. If there is an old log or stump it will catch a lot of the debri. Its an exciting place to hunt.Most of the bone will be animal but look for bone awls and tools also.Look at all the rocks for wear and peck marks.
You may have a really fun spot and the field above should produce as well.
Usually when you see the shell in one place it will be in other spots also.
We have spots that are called shell mounds and can be many many feet deep. The lower layers below the shell can sometimes go back for thousands of years.Look for charcoal or darker layers below that shell.
If its on private property and you have permission you can dig but you must think about what you are doing. If you encounter any burials I would cover them back up and mark them and contact the owner. Many times they wash out of the shell and just wash away in the natural course of nature.
Keep us up dated ok

Good luck and happy huntin.