Black, blue and very happy

[Out Of Time]

Black and blue are the bruises I earned lugging this beautiful artifact back home.

Very happy to have found it.



This type of mortar is inset into the floor and used with a hopper basket.



I think it's a wonderful example.




Found in a creek bed in northern California.

Just wanted to share.

 

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[Out Of Time]

Also found a nice scraper...





...and a interesting little point.





Can anybody help me type it?

Thanks.

 

[joshuaream]

Those big ones will give you a hernia. I've lugged many of them home over the years.

 

[arrow86]

That’s a nice one ..... I would have brought it home too

 

[welsbury]

Similar to ones we find around my area. That is a good one.

 

[Out Of Time]

I'm in east Napa County, Ca.

Acorns were key to the culture here.

Old timers remember when these little valleys were littered with mortars but I guess they collected them all.

I doubt there are many left to find , at least out in the open, like this one was.

I've found two.

The first one (also found in a creek) is the bowl type and I wasn't certain that it actually is an artifact until I found this new one.

Initially I wasn't sure because the hole on the boulder (bowl type) is not fully developed.

Now I think it was abandoned before getting much use.

Even though the hopper mortar has a nice deep hole, it compares nicely with the other and I feel confident that the bowl is legit.

So, in a way, I got two for the price of one.

That's pretty great.

 

[Out Of Time]

I do have a question that perhaps someone more knowledgable than me can answer.

Is it the case, that when manufacturing a mortar, the hole would be pecked out as a preliminary step before grinding?

I ask because the bowl mortar shows the remanent of peck marks.

I think they would peck out the hole as a guide and to encourage initial penetration of the grinding step.

Could that be true?

 

[unclemac]

those points look pretty surf tossed...what was the circumstances of where they were found? the second one looks like a side notch with ill defined notches, I have found a few like that.

 

[Out Of Time]

those points look pretty surf tossed...what was the circumstances of where they were found? the second one looks like a side notch with ill defined notches, I have found a few like that.

Both the obsidian pieces were found in a gravel, sand and stone creek bed. Less than 10 miles from source.

So it hasn't travelled too far, if at all.

Much, though not all, of what I find there is very worn.


The first pictures are of what I see as a quasi turtle-back scraper.

The point is what I need help with.

Not sure if it's lost it's base or if it never had one.

It's not a type I've found before.

 

[Out Of Time]

Here's a picture of the bowl mortar.

It's raining today so the stone is wet.

Hope you can see the hint of peck marks.

Not great photography.

 

[Trezurehunter]

Great find. I would have lugged that one a country mile to have it in my home.

 

[MAMucker]

That Mortar!!! Wow!
That Bowl!!! Holy Moly!

 

[Out Of Time]

My sentiments exactly.