Paleolithic axe?

[Freemindedclark]

I found this in a small creek in southwest Iowa. I was told it is a Neolithic axe made out of basalt. Thought maybe I could get more insight from you.
All finds were on private property which I have permission to hunt.

 

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[rock]

Welcome to the forum 1st of all. Thats a hard call for me maybe somebody else will chime in Im not from your area and am not up to date on the materials used in your area. Have you thought about washing it?

 

[Freemindedclark]

I have scrubbed it like crazy.

 

[Mark Todd]

Hey Clark nice find in the creek
It's obviously been partially and purposefully ground and pecked in order to be hafted to a handle
The earliest datable pecking and grinding processes used by Indians begin in the middle Archaic period (approximately 4-5,000 BC), so it's definitely not Paleolithic. "Crudely made" hammerstones and axes is not an indication of age. It could have been made any time during the mid-archaic to the historic period. The term Neolithic is not usually used by archaeologists to point to a particular time period because it can denote vastly different time periods depending on the context of it's usage, rather it is used to describe a new stone tool technology taking place. The term actually just means a time of new stone technology.

 

[Freemindedclark]

Thank you for the bit of knowledge. I was referencing what I was told by a paleontologist. He believed it to have been made by a Neanderthal.

 

[1320]

Thank you for the bit of knowledge. I was referencing what I was told by a paleontologist. He believed it to have been made by a Neanderthal.

Seriously?!

 

[Freemindedclark]

That's what he said. This guy is a retired professor and has been all over the world working for nation geographic.

 

[Freemindedclark]

But as you can see I am still skeptical.

 

[Freemindedclark]

One thing for sure whoever used this was strong. It weighs about 5 pounds

 

[1320]

As with all potential artifacts, context with other artifacts is the only way that one can positively and definitively claim such a strong statement. Since it was found in a creek, all we can do is speculate.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Thank you for the bit of knowledge. I was referencing what I was told by a paleontologist. He believed it to have been made by a Neanderthal.

In America??

This is one of the biggest problems I have with academia. They are usually clueless.

 

[Freemindedclark]

Lol. This is the only thing that I have found in the area

 

[Mark Todd]

Thank you for the bit of knowledge. I was referencing what I was told by a paleontologist. He believed it to have been made by a Neanderthal.

Paleontologists are not Field Archeologists and sometimes are very uninformed about what is well known in field archaeology.
I Will send you some authoritative sources to show you where I got my information from. I am always much more satisfied with sources rather than just assertions.
I am away from home right now working but I will get back to you later.
"Grim" is right, classroom professors often have very little or no actual experience in the field and are more informed with unproven theories and speculations although this is not always the case.

 

[unclemac]

Thank you for the bit of knowledge. I was referencing what I was told by a paleontologist. He believed it to have been made by a Neanderthal.

found in the USA?.....um....no.......

 

[georgia flatlander]

No Neanderthals have been found in the U.S. to date.

 

[Neanderthal]

He's totally right, I made that.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

He's totally right, I made that.

Now that's funny.

 

[Freemindedclark]

No Neanderthals have been found in the U.S. to date.

You haven't ever met my buddy Terrence lol.

 

[AlabamaRelic]

In the first picture, wheb I zoom in on the flat side, I can see obvious circular marks from a power tool.

 

[Mark Todd]

I assume free minded doesn't mean that you think you can believe whatever you want, but that you're free to look at the facts, which is an admirable stance of a critical mind.
Here are just a couple of sources for the information that I asserted earlier...
I'd encourage you you to buy a copy of the latter book, you can't go wrong, less than $20 bucks for one of the best introductions to archaeology sold!