Thonotosassa's

[newnan man]

Thonotosassa points named by Bullen after Lake Thonotosassa in I believe Hillsborough County, Fl. The 2 smaller ones could be typed Sumpter's. Since I found them with the bigger ones and a lot of brokes I feel they may be Thonto's worn down and discarded. The long one made of Greasy agate is a true beauty. I bought it from the finder. The site I was on in Pasco County was rich in flake blades and chips. I have a pile of Baybottom chert that I found there as well, chips to big cobbles. Just a few whole points were found by me and a buddy. I think it was a camp or somewhere they chipped blades and tools. All appear to be heat treated.

 

[welsbury]

Love to see same site material. That agate point is a beauty.

 

[tomclark]

Lovely!! I think it's a rare type and mostly limited to Central West FL.... and where most of them (classic) I know of or can I.D. as such have been found. Lake Thonotosassa being the type site...a LOAD of them have been found in that region, check Google Earth!! lol. Funny how the Thono-Sumter-Putnam confusion reigns with collectors and online. projectilepoints.net , as an example, is horrible with that mess imhop. Shape/Size/Location/FoundWith important. They certainly overlap in all the spots we've found them excepting isolated small camps

 

[arrow86]

That big one is a smoker

 

[sandchip]

When I found this one, I thought I had a Thono, but didn't realize they had such a limited distribution area. A fellow at a show said it was probably a Sumter. I found it in the southernmost part of west central Georgia. Hadn't thought of a Putnam. Measures 6 inches in length. What are your thoughts?

 

[Kantuckkeean]

When I found this one, I thought I had a Thono, but didn't realize they had such a limited distribution area. A fellow at a show said it was probably a Sumter. I found it in the southernmost part of west central Georgia. Hadn't thought of a Putnam. Measures 6 inches in length. What are your thoughts?

I think it's awesome.

Kindest regards,
Kantuck

 

[newnan man]

When I found this one, I thought I had a Thono, but didn't realize they had such a limited distribution area. A fellow at a show said it was probably a Sumter. I found it in the southernmost part of west central Georgia. Hadn't thought of a Putnam. Measures 6 inches in length. What are your thoughts?

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I think it is a beauty! I agree with Tom about Thono's being usually from a small area of West Central Fl. That is where mine are from. That being said yours look like a classic Thonto and one can never tell how a point arrived at a certain location. Sumpter...no! To me classic heat treated Thonotosassa. JMHO.

 

[ToddsPoint]

I didn't realize there were flint sources in FL other than coral. Greasy agate is a new one on me. How many other types of flint are there down in the sunshine state? Gary

 

[tomclark]

Sure looks like classic Thonotosassa...size, base, nice random flaking on the body but the edgework seems a little more into the Archaic..... that sure is an oddity. Super sweet!! Wow.

 

[tomclark]

 

[newnan man]

I didn't realize there were flint sources in FL other than coral. Greasy agate is a new one on me. How many other types of flint are there down in the sunshine state? Gary

I know of Coastal Plains Chert, Baybottom Chert, & the Greasy Agate. I'm sure there are other types as well. Similar to Ohio Flintridge Flint they all got their start in the ocean.

 

[tomclark]

First three are "Baybottom Chert", last three are "Greasy Agate"

 

[sandchip]

I think it is a beauty! I agree with Tom about Thono's being usually from a small area of West Central Fl. That is where mine are from. That being said yours look like a classic Thonto and one can never tell how a point arrived at a certain location. Sumpter...no! To me classic heat treated Thonotosassa. JMHO.

Sure looks like classic Thonotosassa...size, base, nice random flaking on the body but the edgework seems a little more into the Archaic..... that sure is an oddity. Super sweet!! Wow.

I found it on a gravel bar not usually exposed after a long, dry summer. I wish I had had a camera or a cell phone back then to show how it looked before I picked it up. I honestly didn't know if it was flint, wood or a piece of rubber. It had such a thick coating of dried black scum on it that you couldn't see the first flake scar. It wasn't until I tapped it with my fingernail that I thought about picking it up. A good scrubbing with a handful of wet sand is all it took to clean it the way you see it. I could sure use another day like that about now!