very rusted blade (Old??) First find ever!

[apalm]

Old iron knife or spear blade

Hi! I started reading your forums last night, and was SO excited that I took today off work and went on my first hunt at a local creek in Northern California. No equipment. Wow! Within a few hours of sifting through gravel I came across this blade in dirt and gravel! I was so excited as it was my first hunt ever. I was hoping for arrowheads but when I found this, I thought it was a spearhead. As I thought about it, it looks more like a knife blade without the handle but can't really find good pictures to compare it to. It measures 8 inches from top to bottom. Can you help me TRY to determine what it is?



P.S. it's a very interesting creek. There are TONS of huge protuding rocks jutting out of the ground, containing thousands of aquatic fossils everywhere. I wish I could find an arrow head but I'm not sure if Native American's were ever here or not. Pics:

 

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[Ia.FurTrade]

Don't know about your "blade", but those are some interesting rock formations!
Welcome to TNet!!

Iowa Dale

 

[apalm]

Thanks, I think I am going to like this site. As for the rocks: It's quite clear that the rocks pushing out of the ground are sandstone layers that came from below the ground at some point and stopped. They contain all the fossils whereas other layers below them do not. I used to think it was evidence of the flood, but now I am not sure, they might be freshwater clams from a long time ago that lived in the creek. This site is 15 miles inland from the Pacific ocean waters. 320 feet above sea level.

 

[apalm]

I've cleaned some of the oxidation off and also found it has a partially-serated side. I wonder what this could have been for?

 

[P.ALLEN]

Almost looks like Karst, if it wasn't sandstone you could have fooled anybody. Shell sand coquina's

That angle of the rocks "pushed out of the ground" kinda feeling you are getting is all too common in areas that have mountains, volcanoes, and tectonic plates.

Due to those three things, you very well could be dealing with an ancient exposed section of seabed or river bottom/inland sea. California Geological Society website will be able to give you an age/epoch for that rock formation. They very well could be freshwater clam/mussel shells, but history has a way of fooling us.

Also your artifact is cool.

 

[DCMatt]

Early 20th C bicycle or buggy multi-wrench.

 

[apalm]

DCMatt, that's awesome! Never thought of it like this, but the back end kinda does look wrench-like. Not 100% sure though...

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

You titled it a "blade," which made me think it had a sharp edge (even if it's not very sharp any more), because it is pointy on one end and looks like one of the long sides is thin and sharp. If it does indeed have a sharp edge, I think it is more likely to be a blade or tooth from harvesting or plowing machinery. The two large holes (one is broken halfway off at the opposite end from the point) would be how the blade was attached to the machinery.