How many licks does it take?

1320 · Dec 3, 2014

Looks like there might have been quite a struggle to open this one up!

rock · Dec 4, 2014

Looks like a busted up hammer stone to me.

redbeardrelics · Dec 5, 2014

That is a cool artifact. I would consider that a creek cobble that was bipolar opened, and maybe a tool or point was made out of the flakes that were removed. And it does look like they had to whack it a few times to get it open. I wonder if when you are completed the dig, you will have found some tools or flakes that you can associate with that core?

1320 · Dec 5, 2014

redbeardrelics said:
That is a cool artifact. I would consider that a creek cobble that was bipolar opened, and maybe a tool or point was made out of the flakes that were removed. And it does look like they had to whack it a few times to get it open. I wonder if when you are completed the dig, you will have found some tools or flakes that you can associate with that core?

I was hoping someone would ask! I will keep posting....

sandchip · Dec 5, 2014

You wouldn't bite down but once to get to the center on that thing. Cool piece.

monsterrack · Dec 6, 2014

I believe Rock nailed it.

1320 · Dec 8, 2014

monsterrack said:
I believe Rock nailed it.

Flint nodules are generally too soft and too dangerous to be used as hammer stones but I wouldn't rule out any possibility.

pickaway · Dec 9, 2014

I have found many flint hammerstones but none looked like the one pictured, interesting find.

tomclark · Dec 9, 2014

Busset Hamma Stone boom!
Hammer stones are very often made of the same material being knapped. I have a zillion coastal plains chert and agatized coral hammer stones from sites where the debitage is all the same material. It's the shape and smooth surfaces that make them work well. I'd bet that since they are the same hardness there is benefit to that. If not lost perfect, they eventually fracture off and/or get too small for the work, say random archaic flaking.

Tnmountains · Dec 15, 2014

Now that is a very good find as most do not survive. It is possible they knapped with that cortex 1320. It was kinda like the texture of a billet or antler as it would grab the flint for knapping.
This is how it was explained to me on a few examples I have collected. See what you think? The backs are almost solid flint where the shell was knocked off.Not sure but think they have been found in association with whole knapping kits. I will check.