update on Maine point

[mainejman]

Ive recently sent pictures of my ground point to Bruce Bourque.He is the chief archeologist and curator at Maine state museum.He also teaches anthropology at Bates college.Bruce has also written several books on Maine archeology.Specializing in maine maritime archeology.Probably one of the most knowledgeable people i could have found to help me.He says it is a ground slate point.Found in many redpaint burial and habitation sites.He says it probably is about 4000 years.The best part is he invited me to come to augusta to his lab.Now were talking.....

 

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[GatorBoy]

That's great he will get to hold it in person.
I know it exactly matches the ground slate points of your area.. In shape. I've just personally never seen slate that color.. Or texture .. I never would have guessed that material to be slate.
I've never seen porous looking slate without any signs of layering

 

[Charl]

Bourque has a photo of a ground slate point in his 2012 study of the Maritime Archaic in Maine that is the same color slate as Mainejman's find. Slate was the only answer that really added up, but at first I think most of us were fooled by the color and resemblance to bone. Anyone interested in this culture and the "lost Red Paint People", as they were once called would enjoy this book:

 

[GatorBoy]

That would answer all the questions
What a top shelf artifact that is!
Maybe some authentication papers could be made up at the same time.
That thing is pristine!

 

[mainejman]

Slate makes the most sense as far as it being in such good shape.But until it gets hands on im still not convinced...But either way its pretty fricken cool..

 

[GatorBoy]

I'm with you... You can hold it in your hand does it feel like stone to you?

 

[mainejman]

All i can say is that it feels heavier than bone.But slate isnt the same as other rock in weight.So i dont want to play the guessing game.My buddy who is a knapper says he thinks its rock maybe not even slate.we'll see.....

 

[Tnmountains]

I think you may have found a new friend. It is good to get a professional opinion when in doubt . Keep us updated on his lab better yet try to get him to chime in. Our board is much more fun then their forum.

 

[monsterrack]

That will be so cool to find out what it is made of, I would have bet the bank on bone or antler, but I have never seen that color slate before.

 

[mainejman]

I havent either mrack.He didnt seem to act like it could be something else besides slate.We will see.

 

[Charl]

I havent either mrack.He didnt seem to act like it could be something else besides slate.We will see.

Which sounds like he has seen the material before. It will be great when you show it to him. Correct me if I'm wrong, but hadn't your knapper friend speculated steatite(soapstone) at one time? If that were the case, it would not be a utilitarian piece. The ding at the tip exposing a portion of the insides should show some kind of texture different from bone anyway I should imagine. It's been a fun mystery; appreciate being updated and looking forward to his hand on examination.

i have never seen that shade of slate in hand before, either. Maybe it's a type of patina unique to certain environmental conditions, though I kinda doubt that. You'll have to ask him if he knows the source of this slate if slate it is.