More Jasper and a material question

[theviking]

Not sure if this is an artifact or not. Looks like maybe an unfinished end scraper, or maybe a knife, maybe just a rock. If nothing else it"s a nice example of our local flint. The fourth pic is of some material that has been washing out of our dirt track. We usually get a bunch of Quartz or Jasper flakes that pop up in the same area. I think the last piece is heat treated Jasper, but not sure. Can anyone I.D the material in the last two pics?

 

[Th3rty7]

Most likely Flint Run jasper. It outcrops south of Front Royal along the Shenandoah river. It was very important to paleo man, and there's a cluster of clovis sites that surround the source of material. Some of the largest Clovis camps ( Flint Run Complex ) in the country are located in that area.

I say most likely because there are other outcroppings scattered across the state and it's possible your material is from another source. Your piece was definitely worked on and imo does have an unfinished endscraper look to it.

Here's a couple links including a picture of a Flint Run Clovis that may be of interest if you haven't come across them yet.


http://www.lithiccastinglab.com/cast-page/2005octoberthunderbirdclovis.htm

http://www.virginiaplaces.org/nativeamerican/paleoindians.html

http://www.hottubheavenproperties.com/history.html

 

[theviking]

Thanks for the info Ryan, I live just a few miles from the Flint run site and the Thunderbird site. It's funny you mention the Hot tub Heaven reference, they are friends of ours. Thanks again for the info.

 

[Th3rty7]

Small world , huh. That link showed up on the first page of the google search I did on Flint Run. I thought the chronology paragraph was a really good summary of the prehistory in that area.

 

[olroy70]

the curious rock was used to trim and shape a bow, and the notches were for sinew for the string.....

very nice find

 

[theviking]

Thanks for the input olroy70, welcome to tnet.