good scraper

[larson1951]

digger found this yesterday morning and as always likes me to post these for your perusal and opinions
i like it as i can see (the back side) which appears to be the cortex of the original piece of agate that this came from
it is the classic form...not super rare ..but in my opinion, this is as close to the model of a dakotas 'thumb scraper'

 

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[Twitch]

Really cool piece. I'm a big fan of thumbnail scrapers.

 

[Harry Pristis]

Would you call that a Clear Fork Gouge? Or, is it just too small?

 

[flintdigger]

That is really a nice scraper.

 

[larson1951]

thanks
it is a mandan scraper from north dakota
i have heard the term 'clear fork gouge' from frank (neogeo) in texas....but i do not understand the meaning
these scrapers are found to be the most prolific tool of the mandans...and they vary in size with this example just a touch larger than the average...most are KRF, but also are chert (TRSS), agate..and jasper
they seem like they were continually sharpened and got smaller as time went by.....this is what the ND historical dept says

 

[Harry Pristis]

thanks
it is a mandan scraper from north dakota
i have heard the term 'clear fork gouge' from frank (neogeo) in texas....but i do not understand the meaning
these scrapers are found to be the most prolific tool of the mandans...and they vary in size with this example just a touch larger than the average...most are KRF, but also are chert (TRSS), agate..and jasper
they seem like they were continually sharpened and got smaller as time went by.....this is what the ND historical dept says

Moving from forum to forum, I sometimes forget which character size works best where. Here's the description of Clear Fork gouge that Purdy gives in her book, FLORIDA'S PREHISTORIC STONE TECHNOLOGY:

​

 

[Neogeo]

I thought I sent you a clearfork man......They are basically shaped like giant thumb scrapers.....The old ones are unifaced,newer ones bi-faced....One of my fave tools.Used for wood working

 

[larson1951]

i thank you harry and frank for the info
i know the mandan sites have these tools all over the surface with a ratio of us finding about 15-20 or so for every one arrow point found
i have heard that some were hafted and continually resharpened until they got very small
and yes frank you did send me a nice one for which i am very thankful
steve