Multipurpose Paleo Tool

[Charl]

My wife found this tool years ago in a corn field located on a high bluff overlooking a Massachusetts river at it's mouth with the Atlantic. I had never seen the material before in 50+ years of surface hunting. It's glossy, dull like some low gloss flints, and in fact I thought it was flint. Found out from a regional lithic expert this week that it is actually a fine grained silicified rhyolite, from north of Boston, about 70 miles from it's find location. We have not found many Paleo tools in our time, and I was pleased to have confirmed this is indeed a multipurpose Paleo tool. In the first photo, you can see the bottom edge is an end scraper, the left edge is a spokeshave, and there is a graver spur top right corner. Lower on the right edge, there is another graver spur seen, with the tip broke. The 4th photo shows the other side with the graver at lower right corner and patinated interior break. Lots of veins on the glossy surface, and it also displays extreme weathering with iron staining. I have "re-found" a few Paleo artifacts in recent years going through our collection with more experienced eyes then when we originally found the pieces in question. According to the late Lar Hothem, end scrapers with graver spurs were only produced in the Paleo era. I kinda doubt that, actually, but given the rare regional material and nature of the tool and degree of weathering, I'm sure this is a Paleo tool, and pretty cool to realize that long after it was found....

 

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[Charl]

Not to be taken the least bit seriously, but in silhouette, it's an eagle "effigy" or a bear "effigy" depending how you hold it. Remember, not to be taken seriously, just kinda cool....

 

[larson1951]

hey charl

looks like it was a very useful tool in its time

pretty cool

 

[theviking]

Great piece, cool story. Would have never guessed Rhyolite, thanks for the view.

 

[NC field hunter]

I find pieces quite similar to this one frequently. However, fluted points are never with them. Here is one I found yesterday. Notice in pic #2 the notch, at which it's broken. Square worked tip with a flat top.(top isn't visible in the pics I have) I'm just curious how you know this is paleo.







This scraper is odd also. Found yesterday in a field with the other piece.







I think weathering has caused this one to lose some chunks out of it. That's why it's not the same thickness all over.

 

[painterx7]

I'm curious on what it was used for ?? And how we know its paleo is it just from the location ?

 

[painterx7]

Ok I should of read it more carefully sorry I understand now thanks for the view !!!!