My Tennessee Stone Ax Head... found in 95'

[Limitool]

Well I'm calling it an ax head but I totally admit I most certainly am no expert. When I was asked this morning on the other ax head thread to go find it... I did. And when I did I remembered where I found it. I found the stone I mentioned in the other ax head thread in yard but this one was back at the cave I discovered in 94'.

If this is an ax head it appears to have hit something and chipped the leading edge. There was many artifacts lying around the mouth of the cave and up and down the ridge it was on. I posted many stories and pics of this cave long ago here on Tnet. My avatar is of one of the mud mounds within the cave.

But what do you folks think.... is this an ax head you think? And if so any idea who made or possibly how old...?

AX 1 Shows leading edge chipped.
AX 2 Lying on one side
AX 3 Lying on other side
AX 4 Top view

 

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[Limitool]

Split a suitable stick, get some sinew, make a handle, and hang it on the wall someplace. That’s what I’d do anyway. I’ve got a modern one hanging by my front door. Decorative … and functional.

That's a GREAT idea Robert and something I hadn't thought of...! And I probably have a stick or two lying around here someplace...?

 

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[Tesorodeoro]

It is generally thought that pecked stone tools started being made during the early archaic, starting around 8,000 BC. The first axes were full grooved. It wasn’t until several thousand yrs later the hafting style changed and you have 3/4 groove axes. While there is no way to positively date it, it’s definitely old an authentic.

Is that across NA where there was a transition to 3/4 groove? I’ve not heard of, or seen, these grooved axes being found in my area. even though there was plenty of timber. I might have to investigate further.

 

[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

Thanks for the info sir (and all). This one is obviously grooved all the way around. Now what do I do with it...? Putting it back on the shed shelf doesn't seem right. And I'm sure it's not worth a million as there's probably thousands of examples around. Any ideas...?

I have an idea. Add handle. Build a nice display at just inside the end of your driveway facing the road. 'Sure I have a .44 mag, but that is just to slow you down. I like to finish the job with primitive hand tools like this one' ...

Not too many creepers will be coming up to the house

Prolly no one will steal it.

 

[Limitool]

I have an idea. Add handle. Build a nice display at just inside the end of your driveway facing the road. 'Sure I have a .44 mag, but that is just to slow you down. I like to finish the job with primitive hand tools like this one' ...

Not too many creepers will be coming up to the house

Prolly no one will steal it.

I'll tell ya one thing for sure..... I'd rather be shot with the .44 than take a beating this stone on a stick could give out...!!!!! And I don't care where the 1st hit/strike goes it would be an INSTANT attitude adjustment tool. I'll take the .44 any day. But that is an idea...!!!!

 

[Tesorodeoro]

It’s a GREAT artifact that not many people find.

 

[Limitool]

It’s a GREAT artifact that not many people find.

Maybe so... I wouldn't doubt that. But I wonder how many like this one have been found. I guess theirs no way to ever know.

 

[pepperj]

So it sat there for over 30yrs. Now it will be displayed somehow.
Cool refind.
Makes one wonder what it hit so hard to take a ding out of it.

 

[Tesorodeoro]

Maybe so... I wouldn't doubt that. But I wonder how many like this one have been found. I guess theirs no way to ever know.

Well if your looking for a rare item, no two are alike!

 

[Hellbilly]

I would put it in a shadow box for display. Here are two from NW north Carolina

 

[Limitool]

I would put it in a shadow box for display. Here are two from NW north Carolina

WOW... Those look almost exactly like this one here. Well it will NOT go back on the shelf again. Maybe a shadow box or mounted back on a handle seem doable...! I've never done anything like mounting this on a handle but a shadow box is right up my alley...!

 

[Limitool]

So it sat there for over 30yrs. Now it will be displayed somehow.
Cool refind.
Makes one wonder what it hit so hard to take a ding out of it.

We'll never know what it struck pepper but it was something really hard or at just the right angle at a weak point on rock. If the creek just below the cave entrance and the area around the cave were searched properly I bet all kinds of artifacts would be found. But the cave is on private land and very hard to reach and/or find. I haven't been back now in years. I used to have a long thread about it with pics showing it here on Tnet long ago.

I took another person back long ago who wanted to see it. When we got there he saw another worked rock a little larger than this one lying just inside the entrance. He picked it right up. I asked him not to take it please and to put it down. He did. Hours later we got back to my home and I watched him take it out and put in his trunk. Really pissed me off. I never invited him back.

 

[robertk]

Hours later we got back to my home and I watched him take it out and put in his trunk. Really pissed me off.

I bet it did. That's just not right. That's disrespecting you, the landowner, and the natives who made it, all at once. Not good at all. It's bad enough that some people will take things without asking first, but when they're specifically told not to, and do it anyway, that's theft.

 

[djackson7348]

I would put it in a shadow box for display. Here are two from NW north Carolina

I have a couple similar to this from along the Roanoke river in Northeastern North Carolina. I appreciate seeing others that have been found as well as the ideas as to function and age.

 

[Relicgrubber]

Wow! Pretty cool looking Artifact. Glad you Dug it Out to show

 

[Limitool]

I bet it did. That's just not right. That's disrespecting you, the landowner, and the natives who made it, all at once. Not good at all. It's bad enough that some people will take things without asking first, but when they're specifically told not to, and do it anyway, that's theft.

To top it off he didn't "find" it. I did a few trips prior and put it there for later retrieval. I even told him about it before we got there. His mother came out a few days later to visit my late wife. She was talking about the stone Jim found... I said he didn't find it I did. And she comes back with "Jim said you already had one like it"... ! What the hell...?

 

[robertk]

She was talking about the stone Jim found... I said he didn't find it I did. And she comes back with "Jim said you already had one like it"... ! What the hell...?

It sounds like he was deflecting the responsibility in case she knew he wasn't supposed to take it.

 

[Relicgrubber]

Your post is rocking it Brad, 35 replies and 677 views