Thanks for doing some plowing larson1951.

[T Witko]

I went out to the site around 9 this evening to hunt a little. When I got there I saw that Steve had done some weed control in south and east part of the field so I decided to hunt along the west edge of the site. As I started walking for some reason I went right instead of left and began walking east along a strip of washed ground at the edge of what Steve had just plowed. I hadn't gone far when I spotted this piece in the freshly turned earth. Steve tells me it a pair of bone awls in the making. I've not seen anything like it but can see now how the awl making process is done. I gonna say this keeps my streak at finding awls going.

I've included a photo of most of the awls I've since last summer (hard to believe isn't it?) If you look closely you should be able to pick out some finished examples.

Thanks for looking and thanks Steve for spending time on the tractor on such a hot and very humid day. Like I said, again, the day you found whistle "more often then not we find something unusual every time we go out".

 

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[larson1951]

yup what a lot of nice awls you have........we were talking about why the piece found today was never finished.........
...and finding these various unfinished bone implements is just as cool or maybe better than finding finished pcs......
....we were thinking about some reasons why this one was not finished into two awls.........we thought the guy making this pair had to stop and go help his wife do something...then she made him stay in the house (lodge) and he forgot about it......the two pulley end awls at 10 &11 o'clock from the quarter are another kind made in pairs by splitting a certain deer leg bone down the center which will yield two awls which started out about twice as long as they are now....but with much use and re-sharpening became much shorter......the un-finished blank would have produced a couple tools similar to the much used and re-sharpened tool in the lower right hand corner of the last two images.........way cool man...a good and rare example my friend, glad you found it...steve, larson1951

 

[flintdigger]

Those are some very interesting finds. I really love bone artifacts. Those are some really nice bone pieces. Steve I see what you are talking about with the two awls that have been used and resharpened many times.

 

[larson1951]

this is the bone that makes two pulley end awls
as you can see by the length of the bone it shows how long that particular awl started

 

[flintdigger]

That is very interesting Steve, I have often wondered how long it took them to make a awl, starting with the bone, then splitting it shaping it and smoothing to the finished piece.

 

[leprechaun]

Guess you've found quite a few of those,nice finds.

 

[larson1951]

on the subject of splitting a bone or antler implement
here is one that failed when when it was being split
the last image shows a successfully split piece
notice that these have cut marks from a metal blade giving info as to their age

 

[flintdigger]

Thanks for posting this Steve, it is very interesting.

 

[birdpointgriswold]

Wow I'm jealous! Is there anyway I can come shack up with some of you for a week?? I have never found any type of bone material. Idk if I'm not looking in the right spots or its to wet and the items didn't stand the test of time here in NC. I always enjoy seeing the pictures you guys post from this site. Thanks for sharing truely amazing pieces!

Johnathan Griswold