Hidden Springs

[southfork]

My son Seth said he was going metal detecting in this heat around 90 . What the heck I'll follow you down maybe I can find a point ended up we both found a point . Great day on the place even with the hot weather I ended up with a Mano a piece of soapstone with a drilled hole and a old Basalt point . And my son walks up and digs a little hole about ten feet from where I was screening and finds a little side notched of obsidian . Our place N. California foothills .

 

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[Kray Gelder]

That's a great day, for sure! Nice finds!

 

[joshuaream]

Not a bad way to spend a part of a hot day.

 

[antmike915]

Nice finds in the scorching heat

 

[Tony in SC]

Good finds!! The little point is GREAT!!

 

[Huzzah!]

Really dig the Hidden Springs updates Southfork. Keep 'em coming

 

[IMAUDIGGER]

Around here, and maybe your area as well..steatite is thought to be associated with rituals.
Some tribes are supposed to have used the powder from steatite cupules in an attempt to affect the weather.
Other tribes are thought to have used it in fertility rituals.

I don't know if it was exclusively used for rituals, or if it was also just easily carved (maybe in your case). However they did apparently feel it possessed some sort of powers or spiritual benefit.

That's my favorite piece of the grouping, with the mano coming in second. Does it have a single flat face on the working side, or does it have two planes?

 

[southfork]

The reverse side of the soapstone piece is flat . I have a number of soapstone artifacts I have found over the years .

 

[IMAUDIGGER]

The reverse side of the soapstone piece is flat . I have a number of soapstone artifacts I have found over the years .

I was referring to the mano. What type of profile does the working side have?

On the topic of the soapstone, I've always wondered why they didn't scratch patterns into it or personalize it.
I can only think it must have had to do with superstitions. They certainly were not interested in leaving their mark on this world.

 

[Relicgrubber]

Nice! I like the lil ones...

 

[NCPeaches]

Amazing finds! I love those little points!

 

[southfork]

I was referring to the mano. What type of profile does the working side have?

On the topic of the soapstone, I've always wondered why they didn't scratch patterns into it or personalize it.
I can only think it must have had to do with superstitions. They certainly were not interested in leaving their mark on this world.

The Mano had a flat worked face . A lot of soapstone artifacts are decorated .

 

[southfork]

This little drill come out yesterday evening while my son was digging a target metal detecting .

 

[LeoD]

Great findings!!

 

[willjo]

Nice finds and even better when you don't have to leave property

 

[MAMucker]

Nice finds!
That last black point seems to be of high quality workmanship. Luckily it’s all there. Do you know the type and material?

Also, nice to see that you hunt together with your son.

 

[southfork]

Nice finds!
That last black point seems to be of high quality workmanship. Luckily it’s all there. Do you know the type and material?

Also, nice to see that you hunt together with your son.

Thanks
The Basalt point is most likely a McGillivray Cluster Point or Martis Cluster both late archaic they both have wide C shaped notches . The little Obsidian point is a Delta Side Notched they did not waste obsidian we only find tiny waste flakes . The Obsidian was traded in nearest source is the coast range I think ? This camp is unlike other nearby locations it sits at the bottom of a hill with no long range view . But is right on an old trail to the south fork of the American river that had large salmon runs in the old days before the dams .