Paleo-Archaic point and natural stone

[CloudKicker0]

This is my first and only point I’ve ever found, and I guess you could say that it found me because at the time I wasn’t looking for it while I was walking down the beach (Eastern NC surface find). Now mostly wherever I go I’m scanning the ground for artifacts and anomalies.

I posted some pictures back in May 2020, but have since received some new information from a state archeologist whose name I’ll respectfully hold in anonymity.

“The projectile point looks similar to what we would call a Hardaway side-notched, though the side notching is not as pronounced as many examples and it has likely been heavily resharpened. The base looks like its been ground, which is a common feature on late Paleo-Indian and Early Archaic points in this area. This type of point likely dates to 10-11,000 years ago. The material is interesting and while it is likely still a variety of metavolcanic stone, which the majority of stone tools are made out of in NC, it is not a type I am very familiar with.”

I’ve “scoured” the internet for a point of like-material but have been unsuccessful. Does that make it an unclassified piece? Would someone please share pictures of a point with similar material?

I’m also sharing some pictures of a natural rock of somewhat similar material. If anyone can see any signs of flaking/grinding or shaping would you please help share with this novice?

 

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[Up-North]

W.T.F… lol….👎

 

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[MAMucker]

Ok, your going to make me go through my lithic material boxes. But I don’t have high hopes of finding anything that matches that unusual material.

I will note here that much of the material that I have had the opportunity to study is from the coast.

The ocean can definitely change the physical structure of a stone over time. In my opinion, the material your point is made from was much more smooth and uniform in structure when it was napped. It took hundreds (maybe thousands) of years to make it appear to be so spongie.

It looks as if soft material has been washed out, leaving a sort of skeleton of the harder material that is left behind.

And, there are tiny clumps of that soft material left between those stronger layers that ‘resemble’ condrules (related to meteorites)

It’s a very interesting projectile point.

 

[Older The Better]

Try diorite, highly doubt meteor, to the best of my knowledge meteors don’t have a cryptocrystalline structure which is important to control the way the rock breaks and shape properly.

 

[MAMucker]

Try diorite, highly doubt meteor, to the best of my knowledge meteors don’t have a cryptocrystalline structure which is important to control the way the rock breaks and shape properly.

Agreed. I emphasize ‘resemble’.

 

[Older The Better]

Or gabbro… if you are unsatisfied with rhyolite

 

[Older The Better]

Alright. I hear you. Fair enough. So show me a comparable worked rhyolite stone material and I’ll believe you.

Ma just to clean up my communication I was referencing this quote which I read as being partial to the meteor theory until proven otherwise. Not the reference in your post of the similarities

 

[CloudKicker0]

This is my first and only point I’ve ever found, and I guess you could say that it found me because at the time I wasn’t looking for it while I was walking down the beach (Eastern NC surface find). Now mostly wherever I go I’m scanning the ground for artifacts and anomalies.

I posted some pictures back in May 2020, but have since received some new information from a state archeologist whose name I’ll respectfully hold in anonymity.

“The projectile point looks similar to what we would call a Hardaway side-notched, though the side notching is not as pronounced as many examples and it has likely been heavily resharpened. The base looks like its been ground, which is a common feature on late Paleo-Indian and Early Archaic points in this area. This type of point likely dates to 10-11,000 years ago. The material is interesting and while it is likely still a variety of metavolcanic stone, which the majority of stone tools are made out of in NC, it is not a type I am very familiar with.”

I’ve “scoured” the internet for a point of like-material but have been unsuccessful. Does that make it an unclassified piece? Would someone please share pictures of a point with similar material?

I’m also sharing some pictures of a natural rock of somewhat similar material. If anyone can see any signs of flaking/grinding or shaping would you please help share with this novice?

Thank y’all so much for your thoughts, help and opinions. I feel amazed and grateful. WooooHooooo!!!!