Lithics in Florida??

[coteau]

Can you Florida guys tell what the predominant lithic materials in Florida (in general) were? Was fossilized coral used a lot? If you got references that would be helpful.

I was told by a PhD archaeologist (who's originally from Florida) that Florida is a very lithic poor area (both in quantity and quality) but I didn't believe her... She also acted like she had never heard of fossilized coral when I mentioned it to her. I'll probably never talk to her again, but I'm just curious now..

If there wasn't much high quality lithic material, was a lot of the material brought in from distant sources or traded?

 

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[bsit1361]

Coral was definitely used a lot among others. IMO coral is just beautiful.

 

[centfladigger]

tell that lady to pound sand, she doesnt have a clue, last frame is my buddy that lives behind me...and yes I cut my baby girls umbilical cord with a antler handled coral bladed knife

 

[centfladigger]

every bit of this is from central florida, about the only place you wont find native rock outcroppings is south of the Tampa area

 

[rock]

I have seen some big nodules but how do you get them to your truck? And they are so deep in the ground. I would like to get them home.

 

[GatorBoy]

every bit of this is from central florida, about the only place you wont find native rock outcroppings is south of the Tampa area

Exactly. And even down south it was traded in.

 

[jamey]

what a beautiful post,my goodness,thanks

 

[GatorBoy]

I have seen some big nodules but how do you get them to your truck? And they are so deep in the ground. I would like to get them home.

Wheel barrow?

 

[tomclark]

Florida is loaded with excellent, world class lithic material. As JC said, it is less common south of Mid FL.
coastal plains chert in many variations like greasy agate, ledge "flint", chalcedony, rice grain chert, etc. etc. , baybottom chert, at least two types of agatized coral and conglomerate.

 

[wells]

Can you Florida guys tell what the predominant lithic materials in Florida (in general) were? Was fossilized coral used a lot? If you got references that would be helpful.

I was told by a PhD archaeologist (who's originally from Florida) that Florida is a very lithic poor area (both in quantity and quality) but I didn't believe her... She also acted like she had never heard of fossilized coral when I mentioned it to her. I'll probably never talk to her again, but I'm just curious now..

If there wasn't much high quality lithic material, was a lot of the material brought in from distant sources or traded?

Another case of a so called professional trying to throw you off coarse.

 

[BosnMate]

What a great post. You have some of the prettiest points I've ever seen.

 

[coteau]

Thanks guys, that material is strikingly beautiful.

I've seen a lot of ignorance in the "professional" circles. There are very few archaeologists that know more than what they did their dissertations on. For the most part, people who are passionate about archeology will learn way more on their own than at any crooked university...

 

[GatorBoy]

Where she may have been coming from was... the southern "half" of Florida has almost none....so that being compared to the rest of the states would make Florida as a whole pretty lithicly challanged.

 

[GatorBoy]

The southern tribes had to trade for the material and made do with what they had available..like shell and bone. So you wind up with sites that produce a mix. Like this..

 

[GatorBoy]

 

[1320]

Two definations of Lithic Rich/Lithic poor exist...ours and theirs. Their definition includes much more than just lithic material....perhaps it's not ignorance?

Lithic Environments

 

[GatorBoy]

That Definition Would make any site Containing less than 70 percent Local material by weight Considered a lithic poor environment. Very interesting read. He described the characteristics of the different assemblages very well. Thanks for the link.

 

[1320]

That Definition Would make any site Containing less than 70 percent Local material by weight Considered a lithic poor environment. Very interesting read. He described the characteristics of the different assemblages very well. Thanks for the link.

Now that guy is smart Gator! Thanks for taking the time to read it!

 

[coteau]

Where she may have been coming from was... the southern "half" of Florida has almost none....so that being compared to the rest of the states would make Florida as a whole pretty lithicly challanged.

That could have been the case, thanks

 

[GatorBoy]

Just playing devil's advocate... your welcome.