Translucent Thursday

CreekSide

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Quartz Crystal Pendant - NEBRASKA

My dad and I were hunting sites in southwestern Nebraska in the 1960’s when my dad found this small pendant. The site was along the Republican River and is considered an Upper Republican phase site. The Upper Republican phase is part of the Central Plains tradition and has been dated via radiocarbon techniques to A.D. 1100 to 1350.
(Macy, J. N., Plains Anthropologist, Nov. 2009)

When this piece was found we assumed it was made of modern glass because it was so clear. Since I wanted to know for sure what the pendant was made from I eventually took the piece to the University of Nebraska and showed it to Roger Pabian, a geologist professor who I was acquainted with. Using a gemologist’s refractometer Roger was able to quickly verify that the pendant was indeed made of knapped crystal quartz, a material we seldom see out here in the Central Great Plains.

View attachment 2187992
That is an amazing find.
 

Quartz Crystal Pendant - NEBRASKA

My dad and I were hunting sites in southwestern Nebraska in the 1960’s when my dad found this small pendant. The site was along the Republican River and is considered an Upper Republican phase site. The Upper Republican phase is part of the Central Plains tradition and has been dated via radiocarbon techniques to A.D. 1100 to 1350.
(Macy, J. N., Plains Anthropologist, Nov. 2009)

When this piece was found we assumed it was made of modern glass because it was so clear. Since I wanted to know for sure what the pendant was made from I eventually took the piece to the University of Nebraska and showed it to Roger Pabian, a geologist professor who I was acquainted with. Using a gemologist’s refractometer Roger was able to quickly verify that the pendant was indeed made of knapped crystal quartz, a material we seldom see out here in the Central Great Plains.

View attachment 2187992
That's impressive!
 

Both of these points are chalcedony. The top one is a Split Stemmed Eastgate (1,500-1,100 years B.P.) and the lower one is an Elko Eared (4,500-1,500 B.P.).

Both recovered on private farmland with permission in Northern Nevada.
I miss hunting the northern Nevada area. Lived there for years. Great hunting there.
 

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