Chopper with a spokeshave?

[TXCreekWalker]

Found this one recently beside a creek in Denton County, Texas. I am pretty sure that it was worked by man, but I am wondering what the type of tool would be. The worked edge has been worn down quite a bit, but as it nears the part that may be a spokeshave, the edge sharpens significantly. This area does not appear to be re-worked because it extends further out than the worn area. My thinking is this was due to how it was used - working mostly with part of the edge. With the depression in the middle on one side, it made a good place to place your thumb, providing a solid, comfortable grip. This feature may be part of the reason the stone was chosen.

What do you think, chopping tool or knife /multitool?

 

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[Treasure_Hunter]

Sorry, it looks like recent random creek flaking from tumpling in creek during flooding, not from knapping.

 

[CreekSide]

Probably a test rock

 

[pepperj]

I bet the thumb fits right nicely on the side.

 

[Relicgrubber]

Yep, the creek was testing the rock...

 

[Blackfoot58]

The first picture looks like a naturally chipped/broken chunk of chert.
The 2nd picture looks to have a scalloped edge; but it looks “wrong”.
I do understand why it caught your eye.

 

[TXCreekWalker]

Thank you all. Clarification can often come with disappointment, but better to have disappointment than a natural rock that you falsely believe to be an artifact.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Thank you all. Clarification can often come with disappointment, but better to have disappointment than a natural rock that you falsely believe to be an artifact.

Hey, we all started at same point and had to learn. I walked creeks and streams for over 20 years in Missouri and Illinois.

 

[ToddsPoint]

I’ll disagree. This is creek chatter. You can see the small flake removals have a patina.

These are flakes removed with a hammerstone. This natural spall was tested by someone. I’ve knapped flint since 1985 and I know what I’m seeing.😉

 

[newnan man]

It's worth keeping in the box in garage either way.

 

[ToddsPoint]

It's worth keeping in the box in garage either way.

Or send it to me and I’ll chip a point from it for you.

 

[CreekSide]

I’ll disagree. This is creek chatter. You can see the small flake removals have a patina.View attachment 2182748

These are flakes removed with a hammerstone. This natural spall was tested by someone. I’ve knapped flint since 1985 and I know what I’m seeing.😉View attachment 2182749

Thanks Todd

 

[unclemac]

or just an expedient tool.... used once and tossed aside.

 

[Relicgrubber]

So...

If a rock falls off a Vertical Cut creek/river bank and smashes into the rocks below in the creek and breaks a chunk off a rock in the creek, it is considered an intentional chunk removal by a Hammer Stone?

...asking for a friend

 

[TXCreekWalker]

I’ll disagree. This is creek chatter. You can see the small flake removals have a patina.View attachment 2182748

These are flakes removed with a hammerstone. This natural spall was tested by someone. I’ve knapped flint since 1985 and I know what I’m seeing.😉View attachment 2182749

I believe I see what you mean: The creek chatter has patina that is not consistent along the edge, meaning a long period of time between flaking which would not be the case if it was a tool. This is a good example rock, and one to use for compassions.

 

[RGINN]

Definitely something you'd want to pick up and look over a little closer.

 

[ToddsPoint]

So...

If a rock falls off a Vertical Cut creek/river bank and smashes into the rocks below in the creek and breaks a chunk off a rock in the creek, it is considered an intentional chunk removal by a Hammer Stone?

...asking for a friend

When the knapper picked up this piece, he saw a flat side and a humped side. To complete a point, the hump side has to be reduced first. He tested it by removing two flakes from the hump side. To do this, he first had to set a platform. #1 is the creek chatter with patina. #2 are flakes removed from the flat side with no patina to set a platform for the hump side. What he did was lower the edge slightly toward the hump side. Then he ground the edge with an abrader and removed flakes #3 an 4. He then discarded the piece. It could have a crack. Flakes 3 & 4 would have a dull sound if it had a crack. Maybe it wasn’t long enough for his needs. Maybe it was tough and other material there flaked better. I learned these things from many yrs of flintknapping and experimental archaeology. You can be an armchair arkie and wonder about stuff, or you can get your hands dirty and learn how things really are. None of these things are secrets or a mystery.

 

[Relicgrubber]

It seem you're right in your own mind so Carry on...

Leaverites just aren't my thing I guess...

 

[newnan man]

Funny, someone will post a beautiful point, get 3 or 4 likes & 2-3 replies. Then a dubious chunk of chipped rock shows up and it gets blown up.

 

[Tesorodeoro]

When the knapper picked up this piece, he saw a flat side and a humped side. To complete a point, the hump side has to be reduced first. He tested it by removing two flakes from the hump side. To do this, he first had to set a platform. #1 is the creek chatter with patina. #2 are flakes removed from the flat side with no patina to set a platform for the hump side. What he did was lower the edge slightly toward the hump side. Then he ground the edge with an abrader and removed flakes #3 an 4. He then discarded the piece. It could have a crack. Flakes 3 & 4 would have a dull sound if it had a crack. Maybe it wasn’t long enough for his needs. Maybe it was tough and other material there flaked better. I learned these things from many yrs of flintknapping and experimental archaeology. You can be an armchair arkie and wonder about stuff, or you can get your hands dirty and learn how things really are. None of these things are secrets or a mystery.View attachment 2182799View attachment 2182800

That’s interesting. I packed a softball sized rock off the hill not because it looked touched by man, but because it SHOULD have been touched by man. It rolled down the hill onto a flat likely occupied by a long lost tribe.

It looked like potentially valuable material if found locally.

I just smacked in on a steel bar and heard a high pitched crack like a very hard glass? Razor sharp edges. Not sure if it could be flaked into a projectile or not. It certainly would make great flake blades. It’s a dull green/grayish rock with veins of clear material running through it. Jasper? Found within 60 miles of the coast. Those are the pieces that snapped off.

I kind of just kept it in case I ran across an artifact made out of the same material.