PREFORMS, QUARRY SPALLS.

[monsterrack]

I wanted to show the difference in the reduction of stone from the quarry to a preform. The 1st two photos are what was made in the quarry by NA. This is not a axe or chopper. This is the shape and size made to be carried out of the quarry. The next few photos show pieces that were reduced to a smaller more transportable item. This was then traded and made into preforms like these.. I base this information from a NA quarry that I found and started mining my self. We found large spalls on the mountain and in the valley below we found small worked items at a camp site. Not blowing my horn but I have mined tons of stone.First we had to remove overburden with the big toy. While doing this we have found hammer stones as big as bowling balls.Then after drilling 1in holes 4ft deep I would set charges of black powder, dynamite is to hard on the stone, to much of a shock wave. This photo is after the blast and then we would end up with about 3 tons of stone to be spalled down to fit in 5gal buckets for transportation. We moved over 10 to 20 tons of dirt and stone to get to the perfect materials, I can't imagine how hard it was for the NA to quarry with sticks, rocks and fire.

 

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[Huzzah!]

This needs to be a sticky thread. Thanks monsterrack

 

[diggingthe1]

Thanks monsterrack I have a piece I thought might be a axe or chopper but I think you cleared it up for me. Very informative!

 

[reuellis]

Your examples are worthy theories when appropriate material was found in great abundance and of great quality. We need to remember that sometimes the best material was not available and crude tools were the result. At least the way I see it.

That stuff you quarried is a lot different than the kanawha chert in my neck of the woods.

 

[monsterrack]

Your examples are worthy theories when appropriate material was found in great abundance and of great quality. We need to remember that sometimes the best material was not available and crude tools were the result. At least the way I see it.

That stuff you quarried is a lot different than the kanawha chert in my neck of the woods.

Reuellis you are very correct on that, because where I live there are only river cobbles of chert that was brought down my ancient rivers from glaciers. The NA would dig into the old river beds just to find fist size stone. Where I quarried was in the Ozark MT
of Ar. where good lithic stone is not much problem to find. When lithic stone was hard to get and they didn't have a steady trade system set up, they used everything they had almost.

 

[MAMucker]

Great info here!!!

 

[Saguache]

Some super stuff...can you give a name of the lithic material you quarried?


Here's some great info on the stages of the Clovis progression of material reduction.
http://www.lithiccastinglab.com/gallery-pages/2005mckinniscloviscachepage1.htm

A 5" Paleo bi-face from my collection.
Shows signs of earliest stage of reduction.

 

[monsterrack]

Some super stuff...can you give a name of the lithic material you quarried?


Here's some great info on the stages of the Clovis progression of material reduction.
McKinnis Clovis Cache Page 1

A 5" Paleo bi-face from my collection.
Shows signs of earliest stage of reduction.
View attachment 1745937

The material is Novaculite.

 

[Saguache]

The material is Novaculite.

Novaculite

 

[Huzzah!]

That’s a great link—and some pretty material!

 

[Saguache]

Another early piece of Burlington that's been reduced to a 4" knife