Two polished slate points

jpitt1970 · Apr 8, 2009

The larger blade was found in Bull Run Creek in Catharpin, Va so I am assuming that this is the result of hundreds of years of water polish. The smaller point was found in a soybean field about a mile away from the other, but not near the water

am-ark · Apr 9, 2009

Not trying to make anyone mad, but in my opinion what you have is nothing more than a river rock. I just dont see where those stones have been worked, also I havent ever heard of an actual point made of slate, but its just my opinion.

Get-the-point · Apr 9, 2009

am-ark said:
Not trying to make anyone mad, but in my opinion what you have is nothing more than a river rock. I just dont see where those stones have been worked, also I havent ever heard of an actual point made of slate, but its just my opinion.

The first piece looks to be a possible worked piece of slate with definite river polishing. The second piece looks to be a deceiver( a stone that looks like a arrowhead). Now for what AM-Ark said you are competely wrong. I have found a few slate arrowheads in New Jersey and although hard to work and usually break on impact early Indian did use Slate for Arrowheads. Examples have been found from the Eastcoast to the Westcoast.............GTP

am-ark · Apr 9, 2009

Like I said, it was just my opinion. Many people confuse slate as rhyolite, which is very, very common in Va. As a matter of a fact, 99% of the points that I find are made of rhyolite in this area (also in Va). I personally have never seen one made of slate, but that doesnt mean that there are none made of slate, I do believe that native americans probably used what ever material was available to them to survive. :thumbsup:

Get-the-point · Apr 9, 2009

Your right about that Am-Ark in Virginia they did use Rhyollite alot and it is very common there and in North Carolina. When I go to my buddies house who now owns my slate points i will take photos of them and show ya. I found a couple of nice ones and several broken. I think i might have a few brokens ones in the tin i'll have to check it out but if i do find it i will show ya a picture. I was lookin at those pieces and although they did use slate they also used shale. Two stones that really surprise me considering how easily they can be broke.

*Molly* · Apr 9, 2009

75% of my collection are rhyolite. Its impossible to mistake slate with rhyolite. I have slate points too, totally different...I agree with get-the-point on the first pic. I would keep it reguardless. Its interesting to see what water motion does to rocks.
get-the-point look forwards to seeing your slate points.

Molly.