Found Some Unusual Artifacts Today

[bmartin0693]

I went to a new spot where I ride 4wheelers today. I have been seeing a lot of broken, patinated schist pieces eroded out of the trail. Ended up finding more than I expected. Most of the pieces were too broken or weathered to see actual good worked edges. I left them laying on the ground along with some that are probably natural. One rock has a square notched out of it; I left it in the same spot as it always is in the trail. I kept 6 pieces that have the more noticeable lithics, but they're still in weathered condition. I found 5 of them in the trail and the dark colored knife in the middle I found in the creek. I just stuck my hands in the water to rinse the dirt off and picked that one right up. All the materials I think is schist/ garnet-schist. I found a quartz blade edge I think too. These schist materials are new to my collection. I've never seen any examples of schist from NC. Any one have ideas on what kind of age these are?

 

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[bmartin0693]

Well I'm not completely familiar with how people "knapped" in ancient times. I'm sure they didn't have the implements/knowledge we have today so I really don't know what technique was used. In comparison to the more frequently used materials such as rhyolite, flint and chert, these artifacts display different fracture properties definitely. That is why I labeled my posting as unusual. These materials aren't a regular arrowhead hunter's finds. I don't think the story is being understood as I intended it to be. Seems like some here are just too smart for their own good. Either way, I believe the stairway is unfolding for me to find something more significant here to prove ya wrong. I'll just see how these plays out and hope for best. I'm still going to have fun getting dirty.

 

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[civil_war22]

Bmartin I'm not saying I don't believe you. You obviously have a lot of ambition. I am basing my judgement on the countless years of excavating artifacts off private property and over 30 books dedicated to early American artifacts. I am sure that what u find is special to you and some probably did have intended uses but from what I have seen they are just weathered rock. Most Indians or other tribes would knap the stone to give it form and to give it a razor sharp edge. A lot of them weren't made that way before the more modern artifacts we find today. They were very crudely made and some looked just as yours do. Just rocks. But even those had some form of knapping or evidence of being in a fire or worked in some way.

 

[bmartin0693]

Ambition...... Well that's my middle name buddy! So these ain't no worn-out blades? It looks like there was unusual modification at one time or another to me. If you had them in hand you would know. They are unusually made and I'm thinking it's a paleolithic form or just early archaic. These artifacts may not be a type listed in your regular handbook. I have more pictures for the know-it-yalls. Lol. Give some these Northerns some clarification. COUGH* Grim Reaper! HAHA! I grew up thinking of weapons being pieces with disturbing designs. They weren't intending on making pretty weapons. Not all materials that are pretty in nature they decided to make weapons out of. Some of these probably hurt. I know I wouldn't like to get stabbed by a rock. Lol. Some of yall may need to study up here. I think I've found a whole cache of these. Possibly more, so I dunno what's next. I'm gonna get me a nice'n! Yall come back!

 

[NC field hunter]

I think Larson was the first person that I heard term what Rock has mentioned in his post. "Wasters" he called them and I have used this term since hearing it. What you have could be wasted, washed out pieces, that couldn't hold up to time. I've noticed hunting the tops of steep inclines will yield much nicer finds than their bottom. Erosion eats then up on their ride to the bottom of the hill.

 

[bmartin0693]

I think Larson was the first person that I heard term what Rock has mentioned in his post. "Wasters" he called them and I have used this term since hearing it. What you have could be wasted, washed out pieces, that couldn't hold up to time. I've noticed hunting the tops of steep inclines will yield much nicer finds than their bottom. Erosion eats then up on their ride to the bottom of the hill.

That is clearly evident here. The Archaic pieces I've found are up the hill about 100 yards. From my stand point, I think I've made some decent finds there, not treasures, but artifacts that display true age for this area. I believe the better materials will be dispersed and situated according to how they were left long ago. It's just a matter of time before this story unfolds.

 

[rock]

Now that I think of it all the ones I have found that are worn like that have been low enough in the ground to of been sitting in water for thousands of yrs as the water table rises and falls. I believe the water might actually act in the process of breaking down the stone itself. Once the cortex has been removed I really dont see why it isnt possible. I know flint in my area is glossy all the way through and it doesnt happen to it. It is only the grainy types you will see this in.