Guadelupe tool

Adena_man · Jan 12, 2010

Anyone ever heard of a guadelupe tool? This one came from Texas. Was this some sort of scraper? Are they found in any other states? Any help would be appreciated.

creek astronaut · Jan 12, 2010

neat artifact,never seen anything really like that.does it have any use wear or secondary/edge work on it?almost looks like it could be a large core?thx for sharing the pix :thumbsup:

joshuaream · Jan 12, 2010

Yes, if you google Guadalupe Biface you'll see a lot more about them. Very neat tools. Can you post a side shot of yours? Many of them have an odd angle at one end, which was the actual working edge instead of the side edges like we normally think of on tools.

Keokukjeff · Jan 12, 2010

Here is a Link..............
They are a Adze...................
That is a nice rare localized artifact you have there
I find Clear-Fork Gouge every once and a while,they are more wide spread as a Tool form.......................But not the Guadelupe
http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/st-plains/prehistory/images/adzes.html

pickaway · Jan 12, 2010

Nice piece.

Adena_man · Jan 12, 2010

creek astronaut said:
neat artifact,never seen anything really like that.does it have any use wear or secondary/edge work on it?almost looks like it could be a large core?thx for sharing the pix

Thanks Creek Astronaut! I had never seen one either. Wasn't sure what it was.

Adena_man · Jan 12, 2010

littlejohn said:
neet tool,lot of texas points needs lot of work on them as the types not been nail down like in other states

Thanks for the post Littlejohn! Texas has some awesome artifacts.

Adena_man · Jan 12, 2010

joshuaream said:
Yes, if you google Guadalupe Biface you'll see a lot more about them. Very neat tools. Can you post a side shot of yours? Many of them have an odd angle at one end, which was the actual working edge instead of the side edges like we normally think of on tools.

Thanks Joshua! I did find some info on them. Mine has a curved shape. You could set it on a flat place and it would look like a handle. It does have a flat place at one end that goes at an angle. I'll try to post a side shot.

Adena_man · Jan 12, 2010

Jeff Stafford said:
Here is a Link..............
They are a Adze...................
That is a nice rare localized artifact you have there
I find Clear-Fork Gouge every once and a while,they are more wide spread as a Tool form.......................But not the Guadelupe
http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/st-plains/prehistory/images/adzes.html

Thanks for the link Jeff! This was pretty interesting!

Adena_man · Jan 12, 2010

pickaway said:
Nice piece.

Thanks for posting Pickaway! I'd love to hunt for artifacts in Texas some day.

Tnmountains · Jan 12, 2010

Yes I have one almost just like it. I will find it. They are called spikes around here. Ours were made like that to give you a grip and then they worked just the tip to sharpness. I was skinning a deer yesterday and was thinking how well that spike would have done to help peel that hide off. I will look for mine in a bit . Got a rump of venison spinning on the rottisery at the moment. :hello:

I bet one end of yours is sharp and the other is not ?
TnMtns

Tnmountains · Jan 12, 2010

Am sure my tool is not named the same as yours and may not be the same thing but it looks kinda similiar? This is from Tennessee. It was made to be what it is I think. I also have some broke ones. I think they made these during the times of big square knifes.

Treasure_Hunter · Jan 12, 2010

Yep Adze, I have quite a few in my collection.

A guy working in a phone company I worked with in Missouri about 12 years ago found one that measured over 12 inches long, about 2.5-3 inches wide, all theren no nicks. I tried quite hard to buy it from him but he just would not sell it although he was not really a collector.....

Treasure_Hunter · Jan 12, 2010

TnMountains said:
Am sure my tool is not named the same as yours and may not be the same thing but it looks kinda similiar? This is from Tennessee. It was made to be what it is I think. I also have some broke ones. I think they made these during the times of big square knifes.

TnM,

I think a lot of them were used also used for digging, I found and saw many that had a nice polish on one end.

Tnmountains · Jan 12, 2010

I was in the back of a shelter on a creek.Picked up a moss covered rock and started digging out the creek with it. Moss fell away and it was a very large adze or digger. I think you are right with some of them being diggers. :thumbsup:

Tnmountains · Jan 14, 2010

I am thinking Alabama put Texas out to pasture this last weekend. Of course the Vols lost another Coach to the land of fruits and nuts. :dontknow:

nyiangelo · Jan 15, 2010

TnMountains said:
I am thinking Alabama put Texas out to pasture this last weekend. Of course the Vols lost another Coach to the land of fruits and nuts.

Hey now......

So I'm glad you brought this up. I pulled this out of a hole that I had dug while MD'n in central Texas. I think it has some resemblance and would also appreciate info on it. I think they are the same.

nyiangelo · Jan 15, 2010

Jeff Stafford said:
Here is a Link..............
They are a Adze...................
That is a nice rare localized artifact you have there
I find Clear-Fork Gouge every once and a while,they are more wide spread as a Tool form.......................But not the Guadelupe
http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/st-plains/prehistory/images/adzes.html

I emailed the author about my piece. His response......

Looks like an adze, also called a gouge, to me. Looks like a bifacial Guadalupe tool. Typology of adzes not very refined, nor is there much reason to – adzes changed shape/size/form during use cycle and dependent on type of raw material.

OP I'm sure yours fits into this category also.