Graver?

[Target1972]

Found this over the weekend in a Central Indiana field. Not much bare ground to be seen with all the cornstalk debris but able to see a little more every time I go out. Thought it may be a scraper when I put it in my pack, after washing the dirt off I saw the tip and wanted to get some opinions. Sorry for the poor pictures, phone camera and I don't get along to well.

 

[uniface]

Interesting artifact !!

 

[Tdog]

Google "lithic graver spurs" and look at some of the images. Gravers will have one or more distinctive sharp points known as "spurs".

https://www.google.com/search?q=lit...XntlkKHUcGAnQQ_AUoA3oECAgQBQ&biw=1920&bih=937

 

[uniface]

What's most interesting about it, IMHO, is that before the tip was re-sharpened (several times), it was a true burin. Those are common items on Aurignacian sites in Europe (& probably later), but rare in Paleo assemblages here and, as far as my limited knowledge goes, unknown after that.

I have exactly one of them.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burin_(lithic_flake)

FWIW

 

[Target1972]

Great read and link, thanks for the info!

 

[uniface]

Burins are distinguished from other pointy things by both converging sides having been burin flaked (sides @ right angles to front).