Is This a Preform?

[garren]

Is this a large preform or were they just knocking pieces off? or just wishful thinking? Picked this up on a ranch in Harper, Tx while hunting points. It was 600 acres and I felt like I walked 300 of that. Not a single point. Lots of flakes and this piece but nothing else.

 

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[Tnmountains]

it is reduction down and if worthy it made the grade to a tool or implement. To me it looks worthy and I think they are fascinating . Makes you wonder why it never went any further. Nice specimen looks cool.

 

[garren]

Thanks Tnmountains!

 

[larson1951]

it looks like a core in some ways
the percussion lakes that were removed from that piece could been made into points, blades, scrapers, etc

 

[garren]

it looks like a core in some ways

Yes, thank you! That was the term I was trying to think of when I said "knocking pieces off". LOL - I've got to brush up on my artifact terminology.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

They were definitely knocking pieces off of that. What for is another question. It could have been trying to reduce it down to make a large Bi-Face or Knife. Or it could have just been a core that they taking large flakes off of to make smaller Points and Tools.

 

[garren]

They were definitely knocking pieces off of that. What for is another question. It could have been trying to reduce it down to make a large Bi-Face or Knife. Or it could have just been a core that they taking large flakes off of to make smaller Points and Tools.

I'm glad to know that this piece was mostly likely worked on. I carried it a long ways back to the truck! It's not real light...I almost threw it down twice.

 

[Jon Stewart]

A preform looks like a knife blade or arrowhead which is not quite finished. Preforms may need some thinning and notches made to complete the blade or point. I have made many preforms which are still sitting around waiting for my thinning and notching gets better. Your rock from Texas is nice stuff to work and even nicer once heat treated. Your source rock hinged up pretty good and that is probably the reason it was tossed. Toss that rock in a turkey roaster and sand for 8 hours at 450 and it would make some nice arrowhead blanks or a knife blade.

 

[NC field hunter]

I'd think quarry blank. Not sure though

 

[GatorBoy]

Around here that would be called a quarry blank.
Everyone else is correct just the same.. supply stone describes it pretty well.

 

[garren]

Thanks for the good info everyone! If we wanted to get technical and name this material....would this be Edwards Chert? It was picked up in the Texas hill country.

 

[unclemac]

one thing I have noticed before....these core stones often have a "pre-form" look to them. As if whom ever was reducing it by knocking off flakes, did so carefully so that in the end he would have a usable hand ax or something similar.

 

[rock]

Thats a nice looking piece of worked flint.