I like that frame/collection! I see bifurcated points, beveled types and more Blade tools. Gorgeous material. They really liked their dark materials. I thought that some of it is Coshocton Flint, seeing the telltale white quartz veins and shades of blue, black and grey.
FWIW, in much of West Virginia, Kanawha was pretty much all they had. Usually not much to write home about -- this shows the high quality end of the spectrum, which I hadn't suspected existed.
Well that’s an interesting fact, and I’ll take your word for it.
I just thought that Coshocton County, Ohio, which is within a few days walk to Charleston, WV would naturally provide a bountiful source of excellent material to more than than just the locals.
Im only repeating what I’ve read: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Mercer_flint
Yes and no. The more time passed, the more people there came to be. Which led to competition for territorial resources and boundaries. (And what seems to have been recreational as well as all-out warfare). This is a process first evident back as far as the Dalton era and continued. With the Benton Archaic you start seeing materials traveling over the span of a hundred miles or so, then continental movement of selective, high-status lithics with the Mound Builders.
Most of your points are Archaic, and from later than the early phase when trade in pretty/high-quality lithics (Dovetails for example) was a thing of the past. Maybe your local history was an exception to the general rule.
I’m beginning to see the subtle differences between the two lithic materials. Great post by reuellis.
Got us digging into the nitty gritty.
Love the journey.