What are these???

[hammerstone99]

These were found on a bench above a creek. All of them were found within 10 feet of each other. They are 17"-19" other than the broken one. They have ruff edge work on both sides. Is it possable they could have been plows of some sort? Also I found the one that looks like a hand tool not far away. It looks like it has an edge all the way around except for the spot they maybe held in their hand looks like it could have been ground too smooth it? Whats your opinions??

 

[Tnmountains]

Those are some of the best looking artifacts I have seen on here in a while. The size and flaking is superb. I think the first were preforms where they tested the material to see if it was worthy to carry back to camp.
The large item 3rd down with that edge work is diffrent.It almost looks like it was made for a task. Like large powerful cutting or sawing.
4,5,6&7 also look like preforms made for transport.
This is my guess. They are a great collection of worked stone. What state may I ask?
Thank you for sharing your finds Hammerstone.

TnMountains

 

[Montana Jim]

No idea... just want to follow this topic.

 

[Th3rty7]

Wow, huge biface cache blades. Haven't seen these characters in the area have you?

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_azFHniuv30g/SdjOwXK1njI/AAAAAAAACuE/1quf0POewmA/s1600-h/P1010225[1].JPG

 

[hammerstone99]

Nope haven't seen em, but the flint the ones I found are made out of is black under the patina I guess you would call it (visible in pic # 6 by my hand, chipped it while my little girl was helping me take pics)) just for clarification pics#1-3 and 5 are the same artifacts, pic 4 is a different smaller one, and pics 6-8 are the hand tool. What were blades that big used for?

 

[hammerstone99]

Were the guys in that pic on the link making that blade? Saftey glasses, fresh chips on the ground by their feet?

 

[Th3rty7]

Were the guys in that pic on the link making that blade? Saftey glasses, fresh chips on the ground by their feet?

yeah, those guys are modern knappers.

I'm not sure what blades that big were used for except like what Tn. said about big preforms to carry back to the village.

 

[centfladigger]

huge quarried bifaces/preforms. That is an excellent example. Any other rock like that laying around, flakes spalls etc? very nice find.

Emory makes those huge obsidian blades . A very talented knapper and rockhound

 

[hammerstone99]

Yes There is alot of this material, but these were 1/2 mile or so away from anyother all by themselves.

 

[uniface]

Hammerstone99 said, "These were found on a bench above a creek . . . 1/2 mile or so away from anyother all by themselves."

Check out what's happening here.

"Tough" materials like quartzites are said to knap with better control when they've been well soaked. Water in the fabric of the stone helps transmit the force waves through the voids in the material, keeping them more coherent than they would be otherwise.

I've often figured that many of the "drier" cherts must be in the same category. Looks like your finds are demonstrating that this is the case, and that they were using it to get better results. Knapping in the creek.

 

[hammerstone99]

Huh, thats a thought, thanks for the info.

 

[jamey]

wow thanks for sharing jamey