✅ SOLVED Not sure how I missed this

[EricTheCat]

One day I hope to find something good to share. Meanwhile, I think I might have stumbled across a utilized flake today and would appreciate any thoughts on this piece. I really hope I am not posting a geofact. I kept it one day as a pretty rock and I guess I didn't look that close at it. Sometimes working on the yard or garden I will stumble across an interesting rock and set it aside. Today I just happened to get around to looking at this one and noticed it has a sharp edge. A closer look I can sort of make out scratches much like a utilized flake that I have. I turned it over and realized it has what appears to be a bit of flaking. It even seems to have a bit of a spur that seems intentional. A good part of the surface does seem natural. I might try to get some better pics when the lighting is better. Thanks for looking and happy hunting.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Agony and Death on a Gold Rush Steamer: The Disastrous Sinking of the Side-Wheeler Yankee Blade - Grab it through Amazon!

[quito]

BINGO!

YOU GOT IT!!!

A very common feature a lot of people do not notice.

 

[quito]

Must be a trait common to this region. You wouldn't believe how many crude pieces as well as nice pieces I have found that have that obvious little appendage.

In fact, I been considering making up a frame of just this type of artifact I have so many.

 

[willjo]

Good find, good to see you post it.

 

[EricTheCat]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate getting your thoughts on this. The more I look at this piece the more I like it. It almost seems like a multi-tool. Hopefully tomorrow I can get some pics with better lighting.

 

[old digger]

Your item looks like a natural rock to me, nothing worth getting all that excited about.

 

[quito]

Your item looks like a natural rock to me, nothing worth getting all that excited about.

Sorry old digger, even though a couple pics make it look that way, you are incorrect here. That spur sure looks to me AND the finder who has it in hand, like it was that was put there intentionally, and it IS a very common feature back here.

I have a feeling you are missing a lot of artifacts on your outings if you aren't recognizing graver spurs.

 

[arrow86]

I thought natural as well but holding it and Seeing in person says a lot more than a picture

 

[old digger]

Sorry old digger, even though a couple pics make it look that way, you are incorrect here. That spur sure looks to me AND the finder who has it in hand, like it was that was put there intentionally, and it IS a very common feature back here.

I have a feeling you are missing a lot of artifacts on your outings if you aren't recognizing graver spurs.

I am just saying that it does not appear to show any intentional secondary flaking on Eric's item. I find hundreds if not thousands of type materials with graver type spurs on them , but unless they show that they were purposely secondary flaked near the spur I normally consider them natural debatage. I am not saying that they (the user) may have not used them, I am just saying that I normally retrieve and keep only those items that appear to have been worked for usage. You may be correct, I may be leaving a few ''gragers'' in the field. A more hands on inspection would certainly be a better option.

 

[quito]

I am just saying that it does not appear to show any intentional secondary flaking on Eric's item. I find hundreds if not thousands of type materials with graver type spurs on them , but unless they show that they were purposely secondary flaked near the spur I normally consider them natural debatage. I am not saying that they (the user) may have not used them, I am just saying that I normally retrieve and keep only those items that appear to have been worked for usage. You may be correct, I may be leaving a few ''gragers'' in the field. A more hands on inspection would certainly be a better option.

Under magnification that pieces show obvious flaking beside the spur. Even on the spur itself imho.

 

[old digger]

Very Well! Eric, I have to agree that your item has been utilized as a potential graver.

 

[tamrock]

I'm not seeing anything here as an artificial with any potential function. The material just isn't right imo to produce a good useful tool that I'm seeing and nothing to me shows any attempt to be worked as such. Post a picture of that dark red jasper graver I gave you on my last Big Sky visit, so we can see what a true graver looks like, there OD...Believe me when I say Quito, OD knows whats, what in finds and he ain't missing anything his eyeballs lock in on that are unequivocal without doubt, no questions asked Native American made artifacts. That I know for a fact.

 

[EricTheCat]

old digger could very well be right. I certainly appreciate and respect his opinion. This would not be the first time I was wrong about an object. I will say though my pics did not do a good job of showing the details I see in hand. I wouldn't say this couldn't be natural/incidental shaping but my inexperienced eyes would be a little surprised.

Here are a couple pics I took today. Maybe a little better at showing the spur-like feature. As the snow melts, hopefully soon I can find something real to share being this one is kind iffy. Thanks for looking.

 

[EricTheCat]

Tried to get some better detail. Hope this isn't too redundant.

 

[tamrock]

Okay!. Looking closer I can see it is a high silica piece of chalcedony type quartz rock, but pretty fractured up with natural flaws. That would be a good material to make a blade out of if it was more of a solid piece I'm thinking?. It's just not as refined on the edge as I would need to see to be fully considered a purpose made tool and that is only my opinion and not everyone's. I could never prove otherwise this is man made or just a natural occurrence. That flaked edge could have happened in so many other ways I think. Rocks have been known to bump and bang into others rocks naturally throughout geologic time and cattle, deer and horseshoes have also been known to steep on thin brittle rocks here and there altering what they looked like before that animal stepped on it. I just don't see enough there to be deemed a true artifact, but hey maybe I'm missing all kinds of stuff out there.

 

[quito]

well I guess we can mark it solved, tamrock has spoken. twice even!

 

[Mekong Mike]

I once found a sea shell on the beach.

 

[Jon Stewart]

With all the cracks, voids and fractures in that rock, it would be a nightmare to try and flint knap. It looks like one strike with a percussion tool and that rock would crumble. IMHO

 

[EricTheCat]

Thanks everyone for taking the time to look and reply. This one is going back in the rock collection. Good luck everyone.