Recent finds 10/23

Th3rty7 · Oct 23, 2009

Got out and hunted for a couple hours today, I found one nice complete piece, early archaic I think, black chert of some sort. Everything else was pretty rough but I think I discovered a small Dalton campground on the edge of a small creek where it joins a larger river. I picked up two Daltons with tip issues then a small fiasco happened, I jumped over a creek and landed in quicksand/ muck up to my waist, I had to decide whether to lose my shoes and slide out or dig myself out because I was locked in...cemented. I finally dug myself out and saved my shoes...good times! So I had to cut it short for cleanup, but feel somewhat lucky because my camera still works and I found a promising spot. Good luck on your next hunt.

Tnmountains · Oct 23, 2009

I just watched the news where they pulled a guy out of the mud that got stuck going to his fishing hole. Man be careful I got stuck once and lost my shoes,lol. Glad you are well and it looks like you have gone almost as far back in time as possible. Good hunt. I better hit the hay up in 4 hours.
TnMtns :thumbsup:

RichPA · Oct 24, 2009

Thirty7,

Nice, I'm learning that those Dalton didn't make it into SWPA. TnMountains, I seen that same news clip about the guy trying to make it to his fishing hole. I have been hunting some drained ponds and it can be dangerous if you step in the wrong spot.

pickaway · Oct 24, 2009

Way to go... :headbang:

Old coin · Oct 24, 2009

Hi to you all, I'm fairly new to artifact hunting, so new I haven't found any, but in reading the different posts, I have a question, is the roughly made arrowheads, knives, etc, from more recent periods, than the same items, very well made, if so could you explain why, this probably is an easily answered question among you seasoned hunters, but the only way I know to learn is ask questions, as I have no artifacts that I can eyeball or feel, so I know what to look for, when I go hunting, thanks in advance, and hope I haven't did something I'm not supposed too, but seen the last picture in Thirty7's post, they look rough, so therefore the question.

uniface · Oct 24, 2009

Stay out of that quicksand stuff, huh ? ! :laughing7:

creek astronaut · Oct 25, 2009

good hunt 37,glad to see you didnt get sucked in and came home with your shoes and camera. :thumbsup:

uniface · Oct 25, 2009

It all depends, Old coin.

Some cultures typically did beautiful work ; others were slovenly, and everything in between.

Another consideration is how often (and carefully) an artifact was re-sharpened for further use.

A third is that quick-and-dirty work can be found in all periods.

buckshot · Oct 25, 2009

Nice finds,looks like a good spot...

Tnmountains · Oct 25, 2009

Ok what we really wanted to see thirty7 since you saved your camera was an insitu of you in the mud !!!! :help:

Priceless !!!! :laughing7:

.
TnMtns

Flintfinder of Mo. · Oct 26, 2009

Another great hunt in my book. I get stuck in the mud all the time, so I know where you are coming from, trust me. A couple weeks ago I was walking the bank of a river, trying to look down to see if any points had wash out. I heard something, I turned around and looked behind me, and the bank was caving in. It looked like an avalanche, and the water was deep and rolling. I managed to get off in time. We all need to be careful out there. I have had so many close calls its unreal that I haven't been hurt. I also once grabbed hold of a tree to help me get up a steep bluff, I wasn't paying attention to the fact that the tree was dead. When it fell it almost got me. I am sure we all have been through this, Be careful . Congrats on a great hunt.. John

Th3rty7 · Oct 26, 2009

Old coin said:
Hi to you all, I'm fairly new to artifact hunting, so new I haven't found any, but in reading the different posts, I have a question, is the roughly made arrowheads, knives, etc, from more recent periods, than the same items, very well made, if so could you explain why, this probably is an easily answered question among you seasoned hunters, but the only way I know to learn is ask questions, as I have no artifacts that I can eyeball or feel, so I know what to look for, when I go hunting, thanks in advance, and hope I haven't did something I'm not supposed too, but seen the last picture in Thirty7's post, they look rough, so therefore the question.

Uniface pretty much covered it. It's mostly the material in that pic, it's either red quartzite or basalt and tends to end up looking pretty crude over thousands of years. of weathering and freeze and thaw. I will add that even within a particular culture there can be a huge difference in workmanship and materials used. Take guilford for example, the majority of guilford points I find are rough, crudely worked pieces of quartzite, rhyolite, felsite, or other low grade lithic materials. I have found some chert / flint examples that are so finely worked you think you have an expertly knapped paleo piece with parallel flaking in your hand.

I'm lucky to live in an area with all kinds of workable materials from low grade to gem quality.

Th3rty7 · Oct 26, 2009

TnMountains said:
Ok what we really wanted to see thirty7 since you saved your camera was an insitu of you in the mud !!!! Priceless !!!! .
TnMtns

It wouldn't have been pretty, I was the swamp thing from the waist down. Half white / half black lol. I let out a few choice words when it happened, but after a couple minutes all I could do was laugh about it.

abarnard · Oct 26, 2009

Dang bro, be careful out there. Nice finds in the process. Like TN said, it would have been nice to get that insitu pic of yourself stuck for future laughs, hahaha. It has happened to us all in some way, shape, or form. Good luck on your next hunt..

Th3rty7 · Oct 26, 2009

Flintfinder of Mo. said:
Another great hunt in my book. I get stuck in the mud all the time, so I know where you are coming from, trust me. A couple weeks ago I was walking the bank of a river, trying to look down to see if any points had wash out. I heard something, I turned around and looked behind me, and the bank was caving in. It looked like an avalanche, and the water was deep and rolling. I managed to get off in time. We all need to be careful out there. I have had so many close calls its unreal that I haven't been hurt. I also once grabbed hold of a tree to help me get up a steep bluff, I wasn't paying attention to the fact that the tree was dead. When it fell it almost got me. I am sure we all have been through this, Be careful . Congrats on a great hunt.. John

Thanks John, I appreciate the comments. I know exactly what you mean about not paying attention. When I start seeing flakes and worked pieces I get locked into a zone where I'm oblivious to anything going on. Like one time I was so focused on the ground I didn't notice the huge, mad bull trotting up behind me. Luckily he snorted and I jumped over a fence before he leveled me.

uniface · Oct 26, 2009

For what it's worth (assuming anything), in picture number five, the one on the right looks like a Hi-Lo (late Paleo) point. Doesn't mean it is one, but it looks like one.

In the bottom picture following it, the next-to-last one @ bottom looks like it could be a Levallois point. Same deal. But if it's a uniface on the other side, I'd be taking real good care of it :laughing7:

Th3rty7 · Oct 26, 2009

uniface said:
For what it's worth (assuming anything), in picture number five, the one on the right looks like a Hi-Lo (late Paleo) point. Doesn't mean it is one, but it looks like one.

In the bottom picture following it, the next-to-last one @ bottom looks like it could be a Levallois point. Same deal. But if it's a uniface on the other side, I'd be taking real good care of it

Thanks, Hi Lo makes more sense than Dalton actually. I always forget the late paleo points that have shoulders and a concave base. Anyway I agree and found a very similar match in Hothems ' Paleo Indian Artifacts ' book. Good eye. That triangular piece, bottom row is uniface.