New Obsidian point that was a "walk by".....

curious kat · Mar 12, 2014

...so we were walking one of our usual paths and there it was just sitting on top of the clay/dirt....just walked there the day before & didn't see it...don't know how we missed it? I picked it up and "gifted" the hubby...but I guess it's not all there, part is broken off? Man, it's Big :wink:

... compared to our usual obsidian points.... of course I'm comparing them to the LARGE ones you guys find....

I'm adding this to the post...the part on the end that I thought was broken looks like it was made that way on purpose, like a "scraper"....does that mean it broke & they "reworked" it?

Cariboo5 · Mar 13, 2014

Again very nice.....Just have to find me one of those 5 acre lots with rocks.....Thanks for sharing always enjoying seeing them...

painterx7 · Mar 13, 2014

Very nice point NOTWORTY !!!!

Americus · Mar 13, 2014

That is a nice one! Thanks for sharing.

ncnurseryman · Mar 13, 2014

That is a seriously nice looking point. I wish we obsidian around here.

NC field hunter · Mar 13, 2014

ncnurseryman said:
That is a seriously nice looking point. I wish we obsidian around here.

Funny you said that. TNJoe sent me a message about an old post of mine last nite. I found a piece of Unworked Obsidian here in Person co. In the Durham line And posted it. TNJoe has some info about obsidian from our area. Rarely is it found here. VA. Has two dormant volcanoes and look at the rhyolite we find. Rhyolite is a volcanic stone just like obsidian. I guess obsidian was cooled faster making it glass rather than stone.

NCPeaches · Mar 13, 2014

It's a beauty! I tried to research it a little bit but didn't find anything conclusive. You have beautiful artifacts!

NC field hunter · Mar 13, 2014

curious kat said:
...so we were walking one of our usual paths and there it was just sitting on top of the clay/dirt....just walked there the day before & didn't see it...don't know how we missed it? I picked it up and "gifted" the hubby...but I guess it's not all there, part is broken off? Man, it's Big ... compared to our usual obsidian points.... of course I'm comparing them to the LARGE ones you guys find.... <img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=959387"/> <img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=959388"/> I'm adding this to the post...the part on the end that I thought was broken looks like it was made that way on purpose, like a "scraper"....does that mean it broke & they "reworked" it?

Kat your point is nice!! Reworked pieces are points or blades that were broken and reused. Instead of tossing a point with an impact fracture, often it would be worked over a second time so it could be used for another job. Resources were not wasted. A broken point could be reworked to function as a scraper or spokeshave. Innovation sums up a rework. I hope I didn't further confuse you. One more thing, obsidian really has little patina but other stones often have a change in patina at the reworked area. The patina difference of a rework will not be as drastic as that of a modern break.

mamabear · Mar 13, 2014

Good golly! that is a sweet find!!

yakker · Mar 13, 2014

Just wondering- would the piece show smaller 'sharpening marks' where it was re-worked? I thought they did, but I could be wrong. That piece looks uniform- like it was knapped all at the same time. All the flake patterns seem the same. It's a beautiful piece- and I sure wish I lived in an area w/ stuff like that! :icon_thumleft:

Maybe someone can help me out w/ my understanding of re-worked pieces? HH! Yak

mamabear · Mar 13, 2014

Kat I found an awesome site on obsidian. Chk it out. I think it will answer some of your questions on it. It did mine.
http://geology.com/rocks/obsidian.shtml

curious kat · Mar 13, 2014

So nice

thanks everyone for the help & liking it. That's :laughing7:

Cariboo! And you :3some:

NC folk (sorry probably only time I get to use this cute "threesome" thing), thanks!....OK now think this point was made that way in the beginning as just that "type" of arrowhead...that's what the hubby said...maybe I should have asked him first...duh! Thanks Peaches for trying to research it. :icon_thumright:

And mamabear, another great site and it does give the answers about who-what-where & when on Obsidian!

rock · Mar 13, 2014

Fine looking piece. Is it worked on both sides or flat one the other?

quito · Mar 13, 2014

Very Nice!

Add some notches and you have an excellent point to halft. Looks like a nice triangle or pre-form to me.

Twitch · Mar 13, 2014

It looks all there to me

Very nice find.

monsterrack · Mar 13, 2014

A very nice find :thumbsup:

curious kat · Mar 13, 2014

...Hi guys.....rock, it is worked on both sides, the side showing is the prettiest though. Now that you mentioned it...we do find some that look like points but "are" flat on one side and I was wondering about that....were they still "useable" arrowheads or were they (sorry don't know the right term) "mis-fires"? And would they "fly" as well as ones "worked" on both sides? Monsterrack...it looks like a "baby" of the beautiful one you made us! Thanks everyone... :happy3:

gman7665 · Mar 14, 2014

Underwater Volcanoes will produce Glass as its Cooled so fast , so I guess if some Lava Hit a lake of water it would do the same ...

rock · Mar 14, 2014

curious kat said:
...Hi guys.....rock, it is worked on both sides, the side showing is the prettiest though. Now that you mentioned it...we do find some that look like points but "are" flat on one side and I was wondering about that....were they still "useable" arrowheads or were they (sorry don't know the right term) "mis-fires"? And would they "fly" as well as ones "worked" on both sides? Monsterrack...it looks like a "baby" of the beautiful one you made us! Thanks everyone...

The reason I asked is to make sure it wasnt a scraper/ knife. I looked in my book for your area but it doesnt show any finds for you. Looks like a round base point to me but like I say I have no knowledge of your area to go by. Still frame worthy IMO.