Austin/Central Texas Hunters Question.

[Nigel Tufnel]

I am very new to this so please forgive my ignorance on things I should probably know. I am learning quickly.

I have found a honey hole. In the Oak Hill area of Austin they have many new office parks. The area around them is a series of canyons and I have only scratched the surface of the place. I have stuck around the same area for over a month now. I get out there 1-3 times a week. It has some natural springs which lead down to what I am told is a very old pond. After growing up in NYC and living in London I still get off on little things like finding a natural spring. Plus it has allowed me to cherry pick from the newly uncovered banks and set up a series of wash basins to rinse off this quicksand type of mud it produces.

Over the rolling hills lay so much painted pottery it blows me away. I am a working fine artist and some of this stuff is done with terracotta while being painted and sculpted. The other type is much more thin and made with granite. (I think.) It is painted as well. If I were to guess I would imagine the terracotta was possibly some sort of statue and the thinner marble pieces are possibly from vases or plates. It has debitage throughout and some full pieces, too.

I know my small fiefdom pretty well and if I just wanted to find flint artifacts I know of two locations that have provided some of my best pieces. Yesterday I unwittingly stopped to inspect this almost pointed arrowhead and noticed more artifacts. I get so focused I lose my bearings some times and, lo and behold, I had already marked that spot from a previous hunt. I should emphasize I have only touched maybe 3-5% of the surrounding area.

If any of you would like to join me I would be more than happy to show off my lucky spot. I figure if my untrained eyes can find as much as I have found then someone who knows their stuff could possibly have a field day. I am available to go anytime except for Mondays. I usually go around noon and stay until the sun forces me to quit. It would benefit me to simply watch someone who knows what they are doing and I promise you will not be let down.

If anyone has an interest please shoot me a message. Here are some arrowheads and tools I have found in the past week. Thanks ahead of time and have a great weekend.

 

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[uniface]

It's nice to hear you're zero-ing in, Nigel -- Way to go !!!

 

[abarnard]

Hey Nigel. I live on the North side of Austin, and have had much luck this past year finding artifacts along the Colorado river and Lake Travis. I would gladly go with you if you would like me to so I could help you with what you need to be looking for. In general, if you are finding flint debitage, which I see you have, there are artifacts arond the area. I see you have found a few pieces, which suggests that you are on the right track. The longer that you train yourself while hunting the easier it is to find areas where artifacts may be. I would gladly fill you in on some areas I hunt if you would like. The recent rains help to expose new artifacts, keep that in mind. If you would like me to go to Oak Hill with you to show you what I have learned, I would be glad to do it. I am free tomorrow if you are planning on going. I need to know by tomorrow morning, because I was planning on taking my kayak down to an area on the Pedernales river to hunt. If you would like to go tomorrow to Oak Hill, I will wait another day to go there. Oh, Google Earth is a great tool for finding areas for future hunts, that is if it is not someones land. I went to Lake Travis today and had a nice day, but my poor heart was broken, ahahha. I posted my finds if you want to see what I came up with. Later man.

 

[Tnmountains]

If you guys get out keep us posted you both have been finding some really cool Texas artifacts. Hope you both get to do a hunt. I am curious what someone says about Nigels pottery. It sounds interesting.
Good luck
TnMtns

 

[Neogeo]

Good luck guys,I live in Oakhill,and there are tons of artifact.Fossils too..When I get my truck fixed I would love to join ya'll for a hunt.

 

[Nigel Tufnel]

Thanks for the responses. I am definitely taking abarnard up on his offer later this week. I got the message too late for today but am heading out again shortly. Neogeo, please feel free to contact me anytime you are available. I am hitting the backside of the AMD complex that has the pond below Southwest Parkway if that helps.

TnMountains, I am curious as well about the pottery. If I had not studied painting for twenty+ years I would not be so adamant about the craftsmanship and amount.

Any wishes for luck are always welcomed. I am convinced at this neophyte stage I currently reside that luck has as much to do with my scores as anything else!!

 

[abarnard]

Hey Nigel, I went out today to an area that I hunt, but could not come up with as much as I am used to. I need a couple more hard rains to expose some more artifacts. Yep, I tried to contact you early, but I figured I would not be able to get ahold of you. Well, thanks for responding. Did you hunt today?? Did ya come up with anything?? Well, I work all week 8am til 5pm. I might be able to break off early on one of those days, maybe. I usually hunt on the weekends. What is your schedule like?? Well, I am looking forward to a hunt with you and NeoGeo. Talk to ya later...