Is this just a rock?

[rkavanau]

Found this while working in my landscaping today. Looks interesting, and I'm just wondering what this might be. The back is extremely flat with the exception of the notch.

 

[trevmma]

just a rock, dont worry before u know it u will have tons of flint u wont know what to do with it

 

[rkavanau]

This is flint? I have some flint arrowheads from my childhood and the composition it not similar at all. Also, isn't flint generally glossy This rock is rough to the touch and has small quartz crystals.

 

[rkavanau]

Also, it hard to tell from the pictures, but it is about 5"x3".

 

[The Grim Reaper]

I think trevmma meant that if you keep at it you will find some Flint since it's obvious that is just a piece of Sandstone and not an artifact.

 

[tmodel]

hello Rkavanan!! and welcome to Tnet from Tmodel!! on the eastern highland rim of Tennessee. please put your state name on your profile, the United States is to big an area when you start finding arrowheads for us to ID. your artifacts, different state different name, same point.. Terry

 

[trevmma]

its the same material as one flake wonders, store bought arrowheads, not saying yours are they made use of anyrock they could get, but no this is not flint

 

[rginn]

No it's not flint, but it doesn't appear to be sandstone. Not knowing your area, I'd say it's a type of quartz. Not all points and tools were made out of what people call 'flint', or chert. If it was a hard rock and susceptible to working, they might use it. I have artifacts made from obsidian, crystal quartz, poor quality quartz, petrified wood, and sandstone. They tried to get to areas that had high quality lithic materials and also there was extensive trade for that sort of thing. But in a pinch, they could make use of locally available material, and it wouldn't have the look most folks associate with the classic 'flint arrowhead'. Your piece doesn't show any evidence of flaking, but it could be something struck off from a large cobble in the reduction process.

 

[tmodel]

i think that looks like a large fire pop on the flat side of this turtle back rock! to me that would mean some one keep it in damp, maybe as a rock utilized used as a scrapper! from photos if i had found it i would keep it with my scrappers. as new head hunter you need to check your larger flakes for signs of use as a utilized flake. and keep any broken bases and show us at least till to know hafted scrappers.. Terry