Need Your Insite on this Knife!

old digger

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Jan 15, 2012
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Would this knife be considered a paleo or 8-10 BP and newer? I have seen and compared different points and knives from different periods, and it seems that at least 90% +-, that the older the artifact the flaking is much more precise and defnite. Your input is welcome and desired.
Thank You!

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My opinion means squat, but that piece looks paleo to me, just looking at the flaking. Huge percussion flakes with fine edge work.Nice balance and nice material.Thats a hand full!
 

I think it is a paleo/transitional Archaic preform myself... a blade that may have been used as it was until notched or altered at a later date.
 

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Nice piece. I thought paleo over shot the flakes more like what Gator showed. Gator is that your piece?
 

In the first photo you can see two notches that are somewhat opposite each other, and was thinking that it was hafted with a handle.
In the second photo, you can see a flat-nonworked area on the end. If it was hafted, would think that the handle was on this hafted from the long end, or the closer (not shown) end?

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I have always deemed this as a paleo knife, due to the large percussion flaking followed by the fine flaking along the cutting edge.
Thank you for your input and you help!
 

By the way this knife was found by my wife's grandparents 45+ years ago.
 

You bring up something I wish I knew more about and that is the flaking styles. I have it in some books but it never seems to stick in my head. It is a beautiful piece and it does look like that was made to be hafted with those notches. Oblique transverse or horizontal. I know that Neaderthal used to have a good link on it.
 

Old Digger - Just guessing here, but it looks like an early Archaic knife to me. I don't think it's paleo and I don't think it's a preform or unfinished piece. Obviously it's a very nice piece.
 

Usually and not always the bigger the knife the older the piece.
 

Old Digger - Just guessing here, but it looks like an early Archaic knife to me. I don't think it's paleo and I don't think it's a preform or unfinished piece. Obviously it's a very nice piece.


I'm always open for suggestions, due to fact that there is no way of knowing it's age. But it may be possible to estimate it's age by it's workmanship.
 

I too don't believe it's Paleo. I'd say it is more than likely an Archaic type. Also, I don't think they would make a Knife that big and then put 3/4's of it in the haft and leave a small portion exposed for the cutting area.
 

I'm always open for suggestions, due to fact that there is no way of knowing it's age. But it may be possible to estimate it's age by it's workmanship.

Old-Digger Certainly some flaking styles are more prevalent than others in certain time frames. That's one of the primary reasons I believe it's an archaic knife and not a paleo piece. It's really a very nice piece.
 

I think what you have is Archaic, but regardless, that is one very fine BFK. Thanks for sharing, its a beauty...
 

Thanks again for all your input.
 

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Very nice piece Dennis!! I believe what you have there is a Early Archaic biface. I had one that was 8" long and it was papered as such. I was told by the authenticator that these were basically first stage Harahey knives....
 

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