A friend’s Clovis

[LandSeig]

I was talking to a friend from work and he mentioned that he had purchased a large point from someone selling artifacts acquired from a private collection. This point was said to be found in Texas. I examined the point under a magnifying glass and saw no modern tool marks (copper, grinding). The point is roughly 5 1/4” long and 1 5/8” wide. I’m just an amateur and I know Clovis points are rare and highly replicated, but I didn’t see anything that just stood out. Besides perhaps the size and that it is a Clovis. Any expertise is greatly appreciated, I hope the pictures are adequate. Original or replica, I think it’s a really nice point in any respect. Thanks.

 

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[Older The Better]

Not necessarily a deal breaker but a couple red flags for me is how it’s nearly perfect and how clean it looks, don’t see a speck of dirt or mineralization not even in the deep spots lit the top of the flute, but I think some of that depends on the area, a lot of stuff I find doesn’t have much of a patina so hopefully it’s the real deal

 

[tamrock]

I'm on the fence. Only way I'd ever know to say more certain, is if I saw it being picked up off the ground out in the wild. I've also found artifacts that are pretty clean of aged deposits from time in the elements and in the same areas others that have thin layers of patina of various appearances. Chips and pieces missing in artifacts is also a good indicator of a genuine artifact imo.

 

[LandSeig]

Thanks for the replies so far, a couple of other things I noticed was the lack of the fingernail fractures that you would see on a freshly made point. Also I noticed along this edge that the flaking changes like it would be if it was resharpened while hafted.
I would definitely like to get a better look at it under a microscope.

 

[unclemac]

for these points I pretty much always think...."if i didn't find it myself, it aint real"....

 

[CreekSide]

If it’s a fake it’s been done really well from the pictures. In hand I might say different

 

[dognose]

I too am on the fence about this relic. I see some points that I like, and some that are red flags.

It looks like Edwards chert to me.

For me, it's virtually impossible to determine an authentic relic from a reproduction from an image.

 

[Buckleberry]

A couple of micro hinge fractures and it just looks "fresh" IMHO.

 

[ToddsPoint]

Two red flags for me. First, it has a perfect edge outline including a razor sharp tip. The second is the strong step fractures at the top of the flutes. Steps like that indicate lever fluting. Some authentic Clovis’ have a step but it’s seldom that prominent. Ancient Clovis were fluted by percussion, not with a lever. A ten second look under a stereo microscope would tell the tale easily. A real point would have a dozen different mineral deposits that are impossible to fake.

 

[RGINN]

I couldn't say. Too shiny I thought at first, and something about the edge flaking bothers me. I have found points that look like they were made yesterday, depends on where they were left I guess. Still, pretty cool and I hope it's the real deal.