In-Situ pic Shell Adze

[tomclark]

An old find but just found the pic and it was like finding it again, well not really hahahaa. People, even collectors, would probably just walk on by the shells if they didn't see the work. Just like lithics, if you are looking for just shapes of complete tools you will miss stuff and most artifacts, especially shell, are broken when found. I probably keyed in on the notch, the bevel is not really exposed. A site like this would be hands and knees. A midden floor. There is sand between the shells in the pic but it was after a rain, just underneath the sand was hard black human soil. The shell tools and debitage were packed into that particular layer and spot. Probably Indian Rocks or Indian Shores, FL. One of my best points was found when I saw part of one ear sticking out of a wall

 

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[theviking]

Cool pic, and good info as well. Must be fun to dig in a shell midden like that. Thanks for the view.

 

[painterx7]

Nice thanks for sharing the in situ pic !!!

 

[monsterrack]

That is so cool, I have never got to dig in shell

 

[old digger]

Really nice find! Man, with all the shells down there you really have to train yourself to spot those shells that have been worked/used. Almost like finding that needle in the hay stack.

 

[reddirt]

Nice to see some shell artifacts, especially an in-situ pic. Were any of the other shells in the pic utilized as tools?

 

[katdancing]

Tom, Thank you for sharing the picture & the information regarding your find. Very interesting. Kat

 

[GatorBoy]

Nice pic. Tom.
Definitely usually broken.

 

[tomclark]

Thanks, all the other shell in the pic were just broken food shell debitage. I happened to be metal detecting the area first and saw that sitting out. Old middens in later times were usually great living areas, camping and hunting spots! And there's always a remote chance of finding something Spanish here. They paved right over this spot after leveling (already done in the pic) and some filling. An entire village was somewhat centered around a spring, the whole area was sold piecemeal over the years, then developed again. Anyone with "waterfront" property or property that is around where the spring was and other great spots, the stuff is still there under their houses. In my county along the water one always should check the spoil when you see where a power pole is going in or grading a road, landscaping, etc. and if you find something, then you can take a picture of it.

 

[rock]

Tom can you tell more on the dark dirt? I see around here different colors and wonder why.

 

[GatorBoy]

Midden soil is dark from decomposed material.

 

[tomclark]

This is a site that I do not collect upon, but I've been documenting the erosion for many years. There were cedars and palms 30 feet offshore of this midden. A basic midden. You can see the layers of garbage and occupation, firepits, etc, in the walls. If you took a horizontal slice of the wall you'd be looking at what was once the top of the surface. When it gets eroded down you can actually see the hardpacked floor of the midden, especially in habitation areas. The black is from human alteration, added organics. You can see where some old habitation/middens are along the coasts because of the presence of cedars, palms and other diagnostic plants. they grow well in that black soil/shell mix. South of Tampa Bay the presence of Gumbo Limbo trees is often indicative of ancient habitation.

 

[creekhunter]

Great stuff Tom I always enjoy seeing the Florida Sites and finds, Thanks!

 

[rock]

Those are nice examples Tom.

 

[Tnmountains]

Tom
Nice Lesche. You know the fresh water midens are very similar but of course fresh water. The erosion is bad here with the tourist boats washing away everything. Nice adze man.

 

[GatorBoy]

Gumbo Limbo roots