Oklahoma finds

[rginn]

Went to visit my son in Oklahoma and he took me to a site he found that has been underwater for 50 or 60 years, but the lake was recently drained. The site stretches about a 100yds and appears to have never been disturbed or documented, as far as I can tell. Several fire pits were exposed, tons of bison bone broken for marrow extraction, lots of shatter and flakes, anvil stones, hammer stones, and lots of scraping and cutting tools quickly improvised from local material. I figure it's mainly from the Plains Village period, as we found a lot of things consistent with that time period. Some items were pretty crude but some had fine work. My theory is it was a popular hunting site. There's a feature that appears to be an old buffalo wallow. If so, hunting parties probably came here, processed the kills, then went back to the house. We did not find much of the things we find at established village sites. However, since we didn't do any digging, I'm not really sure how much lake deposited silt is still present. We found some imported lithic material, particularly shattered chunks of a very fine grey flint, that had signs of working, but no points from it. We also seemed to find more knives and cutting blades than projectile points. Just my theory, and maybe a few good rains will present more info. I got too many pics, but I'll post a few of our 'yee-haw' moments.

 

[rginn]

Few more.

 

[rginn]

Mostly my son's yeehaw moments. However, I did score one good thing. I thought it was broken at first, but it's complete. Kinda like a knife with a tanto blade.

 

[1320]

Very nice discovery! Looks like the lake is uncovering artifacts rather than silting them! Can't wait to see more images.

 

[Flint-seeker]

That reddish blade in your third posting is gorgeous, I love it! Let me know if you want to sell it!

Great story, thank you for sharing your observations.

Keep updating this post with your finds, as I'm certain you will find more!

Shane

 

[rginn]

Au, that blade is alibates flint, I believe, which came from over north of Amarillo, a couple of hundred miles to the west. I never sell artifacts. Being from Oklahoma, I know that selling of artifacts led to the destruction of Spiro Mounds. That was a debacle and disgrace to the state. However, I have nothin against the folks who go out and make legal finds and sell them to make some money these days. Maybe it's from havin Indian blood, but I just feel a connection to things I find. Probably I won't get to go to this site again, as I came back home to Colorado, and they'll fill the lake again soon. But my son will keep checkin it, and hopefully I can get some pics from him.

 

[Flint-seeker]

Au, that blade is alibates flint, I believe, which came from over north of Amarillo, a couple of hundred miles to the west. I never sell artifacts. Being from Oklahoma, I know that selling of artifacts led to the destruction of Spiro Mounds. That was a debacle and disgrace to the state. However, I have nothin against the folks who go out and make legal finds and sell them to make some money these days. Maybe it's from havin Indian blood, but I just feel a connection to things I find. Probably I won't get to go to this site again, as I came back home to Colorado, and they'll fill the lake again soon. But my son will keep checkin it, and hopefully I can get some pics from him.

Thank you for your response.

I completely understand and respect your view on keeping the artifacts you find. Best of luck to your son and HH!

Shane

 

[NolanTheExplorer]

i cant wait to see update photos of your discoveries!
beautiful finds

 

[naturegirl]

Oh Wow!! I bet that was fun, that alibates blade is gorgeous!!! I hope your son can recover a bunch of history before it goes underwater again. Thanks for sharing

ng

 

[Charmin]

Very cool, RGINN--I love the big blade. Never have found any of the alibates flint in this part of the state, but I wish I would.
Those are great in-situ's and thanks for showing us your finds.

 

[Felinepeachy]

OMG RGINN, you are so lucky to have been able to hunt a place like that. Outstanding finds for both of you.

 

[TretinIowa]

Very nice find that blade is amazing.

 

[joshuaream]

That harahey knife is great. (tanto blade piece.)

That is banner worthy in my opinion.

 

[Krisrock]

Wow ! sweet finds RGINN. I love lake bottom finds Thank you for lettin us see em.

 

[rginn]

I'm pretty good at understanding what went on at a site from the evidence left, but worst in the world at point classification. Lots of arrowhead hunters and amateur archy's where I grew up and it's very rare to find a site that isn't known or been plowed or hunted out, so that makes this one pretty cool to me. I would have more stuff, but I only had about 3 hours to survey the site. My son will keep an eye on it and keep checkin. I'm more into historical research and relation of this object to that, and actually draw maps and take notes in the field, but it's nice to find points. Nothin we found was banner, I think, but as analytical in the field as I try to be, I guarantee you I did that same little happy dance we've all done when I found that knife. I gotta do some more research now and will post a few more pics later.

 

[JUNKYARD DOG]

they are all very nice finds and the knife is beautiful.
JYD..

 

[ohioaxeman]

nice finds Rginn... It'd be hard to sleep knowing someone else is out there picking everything up just to sell! I have the "indian blood" thoughts you have!

 

[larson1951]

wow!
those are some awful nice pieces
that knife is fierce looking
you sure had a good hunt my friend!
steve

 

[Jonzer]

Wow! Great hunt!
Very interested in seeing cleaned up pics.
Besides the knife, The skinny piece looks amazing from the insitu.

 

[rginn]

A few more.