New Spot - What is this?

[rockheadhunter421]

Went to a new spot in Stokes Co., NC at the bottom of Sauratown Mtn. this evening. The first picture was took at the exact spot I found the chuck of rhyolite. At first, I thought I wasn't gonna find anything. Then I found the shed on the field's edge. I found a plow broken flake and a small round quartzite/sandstone ball (cooking ball maybe?) Then I was making my way back, and found this chunk of rhyolite. The fresh chipped edge appears to be micro-flaked. I have never seen anything quite like it. It's thick and crude, maybe once a paleo knife or preform? What the heck yall think is it?

 

[yakker]

I tend to agree w/ NC. In my area, tho, I've found pieces like that made from crashing repeatedly into other rocks on the shore- flea nicks, I call them. I'm also curious why one would do micro work and not larger knapping. Maybe someone can explain. As a tool, it seems awfully limited, no? Thanks for showing them. Yak

 

[rockheadhunter421]

I tend to agree w/ NC. In my area, tho, I've found pieces like that made from crashing repeatedly into other rocks on the shore- flea nicks, I call them. I'm also curious why one would do micro work and not larger knapping. Maybe someone can explain. As a tool, it seems awfully limited, no? Thanks for showing them. Yak

I found that tool about 100 miles away from it's probable source in the Uhwarrie Mtns. Therefore, it does not seem limited to me to find it. It was transported there with intentions to be used for survival. The base has what I like to call the "oyster effect." It is very crude but it appears a large reduction was made at an angle and no micro-flaking or resharpening was needed. Or the tool was dropped before that could happen. I believe NC is right that is was probably used as a scraper and the tip (anciently dulled) was probably a graver. Then rock said that is was probably a test rock. That makes me seems to think that it was started to be micro-flaked at a later period but was not a suitable quality for what the Native wanted to make. That is something I can't fully explain, but it has small obvious reductions. I shared it with another collector from NC today and he said hand scraper also. Yakker I understand what you mean but rhyolite like that is not a natural occurring material there where I found it. Therefore, it really does seem probable that it was a tool. Maybe this will help you a lil more.

 

[rockheadhunter421]

Pilot Mt. Is a beauty. I've always wanted to go to the top of the knob. Nice finds!

Here is a link about Pilot Mtn: Pilot Mountain Field Trip. CNCMC Meeting, Feb 2013. It basically breaks down the different forms of rocks and ages them. It even talks about how the Sauratown Mtns are basically the proto-Appalachian Mtns or the first upwards thrust of the plates that came together when Africa crashed into North America. This link is like a field trip guide also. You will see many ancient plants that remained since the last ice age and there is many raptor (birds) that nest there. Heck I know of hiking trails here that will keep up walking for days (not quite like the Appalachian Trail though but close enough to me). If you ever decide to make a trip up here, this link can help you see what all this beautiful landform has with it.