KENTUCKY AGATE

[ohio]

I have a friend who has collected Kentucky agates for a year or so. For those of you who have not seen this stuff it is super pretty and is found in only a few counties in Kentucky.........Estill Co. for one. My question is does anybody know of any ancient tools/points made from this source?

Thanks in advance

Chuck

 

[Tnmountains]

I have not found any Chuck in my little corner on Tennessee.

 

[joshuaream]

There was a guy at the AACA show two or three years back that had a small frame of really colorful scrapers & tools from Kentucky. A lot of them looked like the colorful little blue/green pockets you'll see in Sonora flint, but some of them had some reds and other colors. Maybe they were made from KY agate... If it was colorful and available I'm sure some ancient Native in Kentucky used it for something.

Joshua

 

[pickaway]

Never heard of it, would like to see some...

 

[ohio]

Here is a link for anybody that is interested. Super pretty stuff.

http://www.uky.edu/KGS/education/didstaterock.htm

 

[lostlake88]

Hello,

This is the only good piece I have ever found: Borden Formation Estill, Co. Kentucky. It was stuck in the side of a muddy creek bank. This rock is considered a "good one" that can be used to make jewelry with, by no means is this considered a "awesome rock". My other pal found a "killer rock" that day made of banded yellow, black and red.

 

[Tnmountains]

Excellent pictures lostlake. Imagine that the material was highly prized.

 

[Edmundruffin]

That stuff is next to impossible to knapp.

 

[Neanderthal]

I have several slabs and pieces of it. Like Edmund said, it's crap to knap.

 

[ohio]

Edmund & Neanderthal, thanks for weighing in. That answers my question I reckon.

LL- that slab in your pic looks really nice. You should have a belt buckle or something made from it.

Chuck

 

[Th3rty7]

Here'a a few Ky points that may be agate. I've seen some examples for sale on Penbrandt.com from Ky.

 

[Neanderthal]

Thirty, that may be agate from KY, but it's not the typical "Kentucky Agate". KY agate is usually vivid reds & yellows and very mottled. It's pretty stuff and makes great cabs. It reminds me of a lot of Coastal Plains chert - looks like candy, but you'll throw an elbow out trying to drive a flake across some of it..lol.

 

[Th3rty7]

Thirty, that may be agate from KY, but it's not the typical "Kentucky Agate". KY agate is usually vivid reds & yellows and very mottled. It's pretty stuff and makes great cabs. It reminds me of a lot of Coastal Plains chert - looks like candy, but you'll throw an elbow out trying to drive a flake across some of it..lol.

I'm glad you described it and brought up Coastal Plains because it reminded me of a couple pieces from Ky. I have. I finally found them and think these three may possibly be some Ky Agate. The smaller point to the right may be a darker form of Carter Cave?, all three are very high grade and translucent. The next two are Ky. pieces as well and I've yet to identify the material, any opinions on those two would be appreciated.

Matt, A couple of years ago I ordered some saw cut agate preforms to try to knap. Those things beat me up trying to drive flakes off, you aren't kidding man that stuff is tough. I finally got something going with my heaviest bopper and was knocking off some good flakes but then broke both preforms, snapped in half. Definitely not a good choice for a beginning knapper, it felt like I had carpel tunnel after about ten minutes of work lol. Thanks for the help.