Napa Obsidian.

[Out Of Time]

Here are the things I've found hunting creeks recently.

Would love comments or help with ID.

Thanks!

 

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[MAMucker]

I really like quartz points but have never found one here.

Obsidian is the principle lithic for the west coast and California. It's distributed across the entire state and found in all time periods.

There are a dozen or so sources, mostly in the northern half of the state, and each has it's distinct variety.

It's lovely stuff and the best examples of it's use are masterpieces.

Also there are various tests that can effectively date obsidian which is a key tool researchers have used in building an understanding of California's prehistory.

I hunt lithics in creeks within miles of the Napa source and I find a lot of interesting pieces that range from crude expedient tools to finely worked ancient darts.

Other materials used are various cherts and occasionally quartz (personally have only found single edged cutting tools) but they are unusual here in Napa.

In the few years I've been collecting I've only found a couple of things that weren't obsidian. One reason I'm excited to have found that red material. I'll try and post some more pics of that later.

Meantime, this blade and scraper are rare non-obsidian finds...


View attachment 1709499

View attachment 1709500

And this is a very nice obsidian point.

View attachment 1709502

That is a beautiful obsidian Point!!
How’s this for a comparison -quartz point?

 

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[Out Of Time]

That is a beautiful obsidian Point!!
How’s this for a comparison -quartz point?
View attachment 1709616View attachment 1709638

Gorgeous and impressive as I understand quartz is far harder to work than obsidian.

 

[Out Of Time]

southfork,

I don't know if your area is an exception to the rule or if I am wrong about the whole idea that obsidian is the most important lithic material in CA?

Either way, I defer to your experience and stand corrected.

Cheers!

(love that banded point btw)

 

[southfork]

southfork,

I don't know if your area is an exception to the rule or if I am wrong about the whole idea that obsidian is the most important lithic material in CA?

Either way, I defer to your experience and stand corrected.

Cheers!

(love that banded point btw)

My reference was to the west slope of the central sierras . Obsidian was prized and traded all over the state on the east side it was the favored material .

 

[GB Paleo]

My reference was to the west slope of the central sierras . Obsidian was prized and traded all over the state on the east side it was the favored material .

Agree that the west slope wasn't prolific with Obsidian hence more Cherts, Agates, Jaspers, etc.
Nor CA and the east slope like Southfork stated were extremely heavy with Obsidian sources. With the mountains almost impassable in the winter, trading to the east was confined to the non-winter months. They just used the best material, whatever it was, that they could get their hands on.