Large scraper

[dowser]

This 5 1/2 inch scraper was found near a branch of the Red Cedar river, Williamsburg, Mi.. Any thoughts?

 

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[CreekSide]

I believe it’s a preform. I’d like to find one myself

 

[dowser]

Upon further inspection, both ends are rough. It was made out of a 5 1/2 inch rough chunk of flint..

 

[dognose]

looks like a nice find.

possibly highly patinaed Harrison County flint.

 

[Tnmountains]

It is nice finding the large preforms and seeing or trying to imagine what they had in mind for it. Just one step in a story. Nice artifact.

 

[ToddsPoint]

That looks like Mill Creek flint from So IL. It was used extensively by the Mississippians from Cahokia and traded widely. It was used mainly to make spades and hoes. It’s very tough material and holds up well. Mill Cr artifacts have been found at the Mississippian Aztalan site in WI. This is a Mill Cr spade.

Here’s another one. This one still has a lot of cortex. The Mill Cr nodules are large, flat and tabular. A very convenient shape for making spades.