Possible tool or nothing but a chert flake?

autographcollector11 · Feb 15, 2015

Found in Illinois, appears to have some work along the edges and possibly a few flakes removed from the same side. However I am looking for your honest opinion. Thanks

ChargerGuy · Feb 15, 2015

Utilized flake. Basically a flake used as a scraper.

GatorBoy · Feb 15, 2015

I agree I happen to live in an area where chert doesn't occur naturally and had to be brought in so everything was used down to the last little flake on most sites.
Some sites have at least a little work done and some evidence of use on almost every single flake a lot of them are just like that one.

Mark Todd · Feb 15, 2015

It gets my yes too, the middle picture of your three shows small lateral percussion chipping along the sharper/thinner right side, you've got an Indian artifact. Congrats !

sandchip · Feb 16, 2015

The two incurvate flaked areas in the second pic look almost like spoke shaves to me. I'd sure hang onto it.

PaDirtDigger · Feb 16, 2015

Yeah... Almost like a worn out graver... Nice pick

GatorBoy · Feb 16, 2015

I think that's a real good description of it the two small notches were probably put there to create a graver tip

PaDirtDigger · Feb 16, 2015

Thanks. I've seen a lot of these at shows and dug a couple at shawnee-minisink and held most of the items from the Shawnee - Minisink paleo Indian site here in Pa. My eyes catch things others don't as well as your eyes and other eyes catch things mine don't see... it's great sharing pictures and items at shows and here on this forum. I'm glad I joined. Seems friendly here...

GatorBoy · Feb 16, 2015

Glad you're aboard.
Maybe this would be a good time to describe a little and show one of the uses for a graver spur.
It's pretty well proven they were used to score and snap bone in a controlled manner in the tool making process.. Here are a couple of my personal finds that are the tools and leftovers from manufacturing bearing score marks from a graver

PaDirtDigger · Feb 17, 2015

Those are nice tool. U find them yourself? I have seen a bunch similar to those from upstate New York. Only bone pieces I have found were from North Dakota...