Ugly Chert

[BobGuy]

Maybe I don't have a good appreciation for Chert but, in my opinion, this is some pretty lackluster stuff. Anyway, what would you call these tools? Flake tools, expedient tools? Not tools at all? The creek I hunt is loaded with this stuff and I am trying to figure out what these were for and why there is so much in a small area.

Thoughts are appreciated...

Thanks!

BG

 

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[quito]

Looks to me like you have some tools in the group. Just about everything for cutting and scraping was made on a flake, large or small.

That amount of broken stones would get my interest for sure.

 

[monsterrack]

Bob there is not a thing wrong with your chert, it looks to have a lot of stain on it and like quito said I would be hunting that spot real heavy. There is going to be a good find in there.

 

[Jon Stewart]

That's good looking rock. I would be hunting that spot for larger pieces to flint knap.

 

[BobGuy]

I probably have two backpacks full of stuff that looks just like that and have only found two good looking artifacts that have been finely worked on both sides. I have found zero points. What does that tell you about the site?

There is also a nice chert outcropping so it is probably a spot that there was a quarry. Maybe the type of chert is better suited for making flake tools rather than smaller and more refined points? Either way, it's an awesome spot to hunt but I'm just curious why there are so many artifacts but no points...

 

[Jon Stewart]

I found a spot like that in New Mexico. It is a huge source spot for knapping rock yet to date only two arrowheads were found there and a handful of preforms. Might be just a source spot where they spalled some rock up to lighten the load to carry on to their camp site to work on. IMHO

 

[monsterrack]

Jon I believe is on the right track. I have a place in Ar. that I quarry Novaculite and it was also and old NA quarry. I have not found a point on the whole Mnt., but down in the valleys we have found points. We have found all types of other tools up on the Mnt. hammer stone by the 100s, preforms, scrapers and some crude drills. Like Jon I believe they work the stone down too smaller pieces(about hand size) and then carried that back to camp.

 

[rock]

Could also be a trash pit that has washed out

 

[BobGuy]

Good points. No pun intended! Maybe I should be looking for a nearby camp!

 

[rock]

Good points. No pun intended! Maybe I should be looking for a nearby camp!

Look for a high spot close to the water source.