Info about utilitarian artifacts

[Jatrox]

I’m curious as to everyone’s opinion on the more utilitarian artifacts. Personally, I find them more interesting than all the points and blades. Don’t get me wrong, I do like the points and blades, but it seems to me that the everyday tools like fire starters, abraders, boiling stones, grinding stones etc., add a whole different level of humanity to the relic. I have seen very few of these items, even in museum collections they seem to be rare. Are they not as interesting to others, overlooked at sites, or just that rare of a find? I’d like to know your thoughts and see pics of your utilitarian artifacts if you have any.

 

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[dognose]

I agree with you. these are often overlooked relics in many collections.

I find a lot of thumb and flake scrapers. not sure if that's due a high number of them or past field walkers discounted them.

I have many what I consider amazing hammer stones and relics like those.

 

[dognose]

this is the largest hammer stone I have ever found. bar none.
it's big for a hammer stone at about 4 inches in diameter and it's relatively round.

 

[dognose]

this fire bow was found in a cave in Vermont

 

[Jatrox]

That fire bow is incredible! What a find. I love the hammer rock too. Thank you for sharing this. I was lucky enough to find one also. About the same size. I stumbled onto a campsite/workshop in a creek, the bank had collapsed. Other than a preform there were no points but everything else that goes along with camp sites.

 

[pickaway]

Here are some flint hammerstones

 

[LandSeig]

I have posted these in the past, but here is a metate found in northern Idaho by a family member, also a mano I found in Missouri. Just some tools that everyday people used for generations to process food to feed their families and survive. I enjoy the day to day parts of history, it’s what makes the past relatable for me.

 

[Tpmetal]

The point and blades are utilitarian objects, well the vast majority of them are anyways.

 

[Jatrox]

Here are some flint hammerstonesView attachment 2128647
View attachment 2128646

Those are excellent. Thanx for sharing them

 

[Jatrox]

I have posted these in the past, but here is a metate found in northern Idaho by a family member, also a mano I found in Missouri. Just some tools that everyday people used for generations to process food to feed their families and survive. I enjoy the day to day parts of history, it’s what makes the past relatable for me.View attachment 2128648View attachment 2128649View attachment 2128650View attachment 2128651

That metate is nice. That's exactly how I feel. Even when it comes to historic items.

 

[Jatrox]

The point and blades are utilitarian objects, well the vast majority of them are anyways.

Yeah, technically you are correct. Especially on the knives and scrapers. I guess I see them more as a consumable rather than something something that would be a household item like fire starters, etc.

 

[pickaway]

I have posted these in the past, but here is a metate found in northern Idaho by a family member, also a mano I found in Missouri. Just some tools that everyday people used for generations to process food to feed their families and survive. I enjoy the day to day parts of history, it’s what makes the past relatable for me.View attachment 2128648View attachment 2128649View attachment 2128650View attachment 2128651

Real nice artifacts, thanks for the look

 

[pickaway]

A hardstone hammerstone I found yesterday

 

[Jatrox]

View attachment 2128795View attachment 2128796A hardstone hammerstone I found yesterday
View attachment 2128794

I like the color on this one

 

[robertk]

View attachment 2128795View attachment 2128796A hardstone hammerstone I found yesterday
View attachment 2128794

How do you know how to tell a hammer stone from just a nice round rock? I ask because if I saw that hammer stone on the ground, I'd probably not realize it was an artifact of any kind. What are the things to look for?

 

[devldog]

I have found a few pieces in my yard that I believe could be tools of some sort of Native American origin. I am not an authority by any means. I have found a few broken arrow heads of white quartz. I live in Georgia. I'll try and post a few pic's in the near future and see what you who are in the know think.

 

[Jatrox]

Firestarter from a campsite I found

Hammer stone from the same site

 

[CreekSide]

Firestarter from a campsite I found
View attachment 2128811
Hammer stone from the same site
View attachment 2128812

I think the 1st one is called a Omar which is naturally formed. The Hammer could be one but I’m not positive.

 

[pickaway]

How do you know how to tell a hammer stone from just a nice round rock? I ask because if I saw that hammer stone on the ground, I'd probably not realize it was an artifact of any kind. What are the things to look for?

Both ends of the one I posted are battered from use, In person you can also see a color difference in the used area and the rock itself,also the rock is smooth except on used ends. once youve seen a few youll know the difference,its hard to catch it in a picture, where im at they made round ones also with a divot on both sides for gripping and along the edge you can see use wear.I have smaller ones that over time take on a round shape some even take on the shape of a ball confused with game stones sometimes, well i shouldve confused by now lol.

 

[robertk]

Both ends of the one I posted are battered from use, In person you can also see a color difference in the used area and the rock itself,also the rock is smooth except on used ends. once youve seen a few youll know the difference,its hard to catch it in a picture, where im at they made round ones also with a divot on both sides for gripping and along the edge you can see use wear.I have smaller ones that over time take on a round shape some even take on the shape of a ball confused with game stones sometimes, well i shouldve confused by now lol.

Awesome, thanks!