Hammer stones & chippers and . . .

[T Witko]

Here's some of the pieces I picked up since my last post. Whenever I pick up well used stones like these it always makes me think about what a cultural advance it was when someone figured out that you use them a tools. Then the ingenuity and creativity set in and you end up with "artifacts".
In the group of chert (Tongue Riv...r 2011) and awlso a nice little.marrow scoop.

 

[Goldiver]

Nice looking pieces. I love the rectangular piece!

Steve

 

[Neogeo]

Great stuff..Love the hammerstones and Bone.

 

[natchitoches]

wow you had a good week
love the bone items,we don't get any bone here in texas

 

[T Witko]

wow you had a good week
love the bone items,we don't get any bone here in texas

Thanks, we're very fortunate here, not only because of the abundance of bone items, but also because the soil here doesn't adversely affect their condition. As long as bone has not been exposed to sunlight, rain, snow and other elements, the ground actually preserves bone. If you look at those pictured above you'll see that one is starting to crack and looks more fragile than the others. This one was likely plowed up and exposed or re-exposed for quiet some time. Plowing done more recently likely brought up the others.

 

[old digger]

You found some really nice artifacts there. Too bad that knife isn't all there. Another cool assortment of bone awls, but I like that little drill, or could it be a graver?

 

[T Witko]

You found some really nice artifacts there. Too bad that knife isn't all there. Another cool assortment of bone awls, but I like that little drill, or could it be a graver?

Thanks. I think it's a drill (the tip is gone) .and I think I've just about got a complete set of awls. lol

 

[Age_old]

Wow, amazing finds.

How big is that rectangular piece?

 

[pickaway]

Nice stone n bone finds...

 

[T Witko]

Wow, amazing finds.

How big is that rectangular piece?

Thanks. That piece is 3" x 2" x 1/4". I'm not sure how much is missing or how the missing piece was shaped. It does look as though it was notched at about the 1/8" mark but. . ?

 

[Age_old]

Thanks. That piece is 3" x 2" x 1/4". I'm not sure how much is missing or how the missing piece was shaped. It does look as though it was notched at about the 1/8" mark but. . ?

Thanks for the extra photos.

That is a really interesting piece. I wonder why they made it so deliberately square?

 

[rock]

That Square knife and black and yellow scraper are very nice! Now I have to ask you on your Hammer Stones....How do you know they arent Game Pieces? Mainly the flat one. And do you ever find game pieces where you hunt at? I had a small oval brown quartz stone and took it to the show last week with the large white one and the Expert there said they were both game stones.

 

[T Witko]

That Square knife and black and yellow scraper are very nice! Now I have to ask you on your Hammer Stones....How do you know they arent Game Pieces? Mainly the flat one. And do you ever find game pieces where you hunt at? I had a small oval brown quartz stone and took it to the show last week with the large white one and the Expert there said they were both game stones.

I know these rocks were used as hammer stones or chippers because of the obvious wear from use around the edge(s). Attached are a couple more that show that they were used. I don't doubt that the pieces you showed the expert were game pieces. I don't see quartz as being "hammer" material they used these rocks to beat on other rocks and anything else.

We do find stone game pieces here though. Russ picked up the one with the X on it and I picked up the other this past July.

 

[rock]

Those look cool! I find game pieces but none of mine are etched. They are usually pecked to a round or oval shape. The guy offered to buy my big one and I responded as to how much. But he never offered, I guess he thought it might offend me. I would of liked to hear the offer!