Tell me it’s a rock

[Older The Better]

I resisted posting for about a week. Tell me it’s just a rock so I can get that little “what if” voice out of the back of my mind

 

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[GaRebel1861]

I’d say that you’ve got yourself a very water worn artifact. JMO

 

[quito]

It’s a rock alright! Looks like it has had several flakes removed. Probably a core.

 

[trdking]

definitely looks like a worn worked rock

 

[Tdog]

I'd agree with water worn and its been altered by the hand of man.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Could be a crude Celt or it could be a piece they whacked a few times and tossed. Either way, it's definitely been worked.

 

[Older The Better]

Well I’m pleasantly surprised haha, I don’t hunt creeks often because there aren’t many where I hunt. I’m not used to picking out water worn artifacts. There is one major draw on the bluffs that I’ve walked 100 times because everything feeds into it and I know natives were all along the top of the bluffs but I’m yet to find even a flake which is a bit perplexing.

 

[Tdog]

Does it have a thin layer of caliche present? I'd be tempted to let it spend some time soaking in vinegar.

 

[smokeythecat]

Yes, it's a ROCK and an artifact, as stated, probably a core however the one sharpened end could have possibly seen use as a celt.

 

[Older The Better]

There’s a term I haven’t heard since college, searching the memory banks I want to say caliche is a mineral build up from ground water flowing through soils... something to with prairies? Maybe common there?

 

[RustyRelics]

It IS a native American piece, but as to what it was...

 

[old digger]

I definitely looks like it was utilized at one time. Out here in Montana there can be a fair amount of alkaline minerals in the ground that can cause a patina quite similar to that shown on your item. Usually it can be cleaned off, but normally it character to the artifact.

 

[Al D]

Definitely man made, must be quite old, nice find

 

[catherine1]

That is a flint adze..........nice save.

 

[rock]

Very nice find if you soak it in anything make sure its Chert and not a grainy rock cause it might dissolve

 

[Older The Better]

Thanks guys I’m not sure if I’ll soak it or not, i was almost sure it was just a rock because it didn’t have those crisp edges like most of my finds but it sure looked like it had the pattern of a flaked tool. I haven’t found any grooved axes or celts or adzes or any other of tools of that nature. Happy to have my first one.

 

[MAMucker]

Here’s a point that I found along the coast of Cape Cod Bay early this summer.
It’s called an Atlantic Phase Blade. I can’t say what the material is do to the mineralization. It was found just below the high-tide mark in a natural fresh water spring trickling out of the muddy sand.
If not for the distinct shape, I don’t know if it would have caught my eye.

 

[Older The Better]

That’s good to see another artifact mineralized did you soak it? I’m leaning towards not because it seems kind of wrong to alter an artifact chemically. Kinda like taking a wire brush to an old coin, but I don’t really have a strong opinion either way

 

[MAMucker]

When I saw your mineralized Creek tool, my Salt Water Point immediately came to mind. The texture and the color is remarkably similar.
I would be interested in hearing more about soaking heavily patinated artifacts to remove “Caliche” from the forum.
It would be educational to compare the results, should we agree to a controlled experiment.

 

[Tdog]

Caliche is calcium carbonate (e.g. limestone) and vinegar will dissolve it. It may dissolve other minerals too but I don't think it would hurt flint or quartz. I think your suggestion of a controlled experiment is a good idea. If I were doing it, I'd apply it sparsely with a Q-tip to an inconspicuous area before submerging the entire piece. I'd be more apprehensive using it on more porous rocks. There's a lot to read if you "Google" it.