I need a crash course.......

d2 · Jul 31, 2010

in fake point making. I may have the chance in a day or two to buy a nice collection of points. Supposedly they have been found in a small river and around lakes and such. A friend works with a guy that is in a bind for money and needs to sell them. Some are 5-6 inches long I was told so I got worried immediatly. I am supposed to see them in a day or two and need to know what to look for...d2

The Grim Reaper · Jul 31, 2010

If they are from Arkansas then 5 or 6 inch points aren't that unusual. I have seen some monsters being found in your state for a long time.

joshuaream · Jul 31, 2010

A crash course over the internet probably isn't the best way to learn what many of us have studied for many years... But as a start:

I'd look on here for pictures of real finds, then go to the Modern Relpica section of eBay and look at replicas.

You should also be able to find pictures and descriptions of local flints/cherts on the aaca website (Pitkin, novaculite, etc.) It would be immpossible to learn all of them, but recognize the big ones and then get an idea of what you probably shouldn't see (obsidian, Edwards, Flintridge, etc.)

Then, assume that the collector knows what he has, and isn't going to sell a 5 inch clovis for 100 dollars...

uniface · Jul 31, 2010

You would be well advised to take good pictures of the collection and significant-looking individual pieces in it & post them here for comment before money changed hands.

d2 · Jul 31, 2010

Thanks! I got a pretty good idea on how to tell the good from the bad but the info on the types of local flint may have been one I wouldnt have thought about. If this comes to pass I will post pics as soon as I get 'em in my hands...d2

jeff a · Jul 31, 2010

yeah crash courses dont do any good in this hobby, it takes years to learn things , im pretty confident with the stuff from my area but i wouldnt know the first thing about the artifacts from your area good luck