Restoration - my thoughts - no offense to anyone else

Twitch

Silver Member
Feb 1, 2010
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Missouri
People should do whatever they want with the pieces they find. You found them, you can sell them, restore them, return them to the wild, smash them into tiny pieces, or roll them up and try to smoke them. They're not a possession of mankind, they're a possession of a man (or women), do whatever you want.

For me though, I don't see what's wrong with a broken piece? Pieces break. They broke anciently, they break from modern impacts. I look at a nice piece of a tool and appreciate it as it is. I like finding whole pieces as well but I don't really look at a great base and wish the tip was there. I know there used to be a tip there. I can imagine what the piece looks like with the tip. For me I'd rather not compromise the integrity of an artifact in the name of art (which is what I consider restored pieces). Artifacts have damage, have flaws, have imperfections. I collect artifacts, I can live with the damage, flaws and imperfections, to me that's a part of the game and not one that is bad.

Again, I really do mean no offense to the pro-restoration crowd. I'm know there are a lot of people out there who do it and I have no problem at all with them doing it. I'm just presenting a possible reason of why a guy wouldn't get a nice but incomplete piece restored.

I do have to agree with what Treasure Hunter (I think) said in another somewhat related post, that when I see restored points in a collection or associated with a collector it does cause me to have greater concern about the authenticity of the remainder of artifacts from the person.

Just my 2 cents.
 

Upvote 0
Reaper, are you posting that the restorer fixed the broken point or made one to look like the original point?

As far as messing with artifacts, I would never do anything to the ones that I find. There is a place in Boerne, Texas that buys boxes of broken points from people in Arkansas and sells them for .50 each to tourists. I have picked out some nice material (thats what I call the artifacts now) and make some nice arrowheads out of them. I actually hunted with one on one of my arrows this year.

It was interesting to find out when I started flintknapping that a lot of flintknappers don't bowhunt. I took it up so I could make a point and hunt with it the way it used to be done. Hunting arrowheads gave me that drive to learn flintknapping. I would pick up a point or broken point (most of the time) and just wonder about the maker and what he shot at or hit with the point. My best find was a small clovis (authenticated) with the tip crushed a little. That hunter hit something and I wonder what it was.

The restorer only fixed the broken areas and it is just resin that can be removed at any time. As far as the material, I am pretty sure it is made from a jewel type Flint Ridge.
 

The Grim Reaper said:
This is the only piece I've ever had restored. As soon as I picked it up I knew I was going to to send it to Gomer and have him fix it. It was just to nice of a Thebes and to nice of material to leave broken. I tell everyone who looks at it that it was restored so I'm not trying to dupe anyone with it.

Reaper, if I had your collection, I would have to restore hundreds of them, just so I would have room in my house to walk. I know bad joke, but I mean it as a compliment. I can't help but wander, "where does he store all of those beautiful pieces".
 

This post, in my opinion, is meant to express personal beleifs and not be be challenged or to be argumentative.

Obviously, there are going to be a myriad of opinions.

Twitch, expressed numerous valid points, which I agree with.

Personally, I have an extensive collection and beleive its best to keep all artifacts in the in-situ condition.

If I were to expand the collection, by purchase or trade, I would clearly choose a broken object rather than one that had been reconstructed.
 

I'm prolly gonna have this flint ridge dovetail I found last week restored, fresh small tip break, Ive never had a piece restored. Gonna have Scott Stoneking do the restore.
Scot Stoneking - Artist - Sculptor - Restorations
!cid__1122121008.jpg
 

rock said:
Id like to see your collection in the man cave thread. I see you have been a member since 09 here. But yet you never come around?

I swing by and check the forum out on a regular basis, but the activities and drama of a particular troll have cut down the posting of many once active members... Sad but true.
 

I swing by and check the forum out on a regular basis, but the activities and drama of a particular troll have cut down the posting of many once active members... Sad but true.

Just last night I posted in a thread regarding your whereabouts, I get it....thanks for putting it out there for all to see. Anyone that's been around this site for awhile will not fault you for the absence. Your expertise/background is light years in front of us, it's ashamed that you haven't recieved the respect from this sites' members. I wish that you post your credentials but I know you are far too humble to...so, I challenge the frequent posters in this forum to google this man....you have no idea what you're missing.
 

I saw a sword come out of a no name creek near me that was almost 2' long. It was broke in the middle and had been restored. The owner who had a fabulous collection was quick to point out the location of the find and the restoration. I would have had it restored as well since both pieces were there. It stayed in his collection until his death. Fabulous piece. I have posted pics of it on here long ago.
 

BirdCloud said:
I'm prolly gonna have this flint ridge dovetail I found last week restored, fresh small tip break, Ive never had a piece restored. Gonna have Scott Stoneking do the restore.
Scot Stoneking - Artist - Sculptor - Restorations
<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=706719"/>

Can You post a picture of it now. I searched your history to see if Mabey I missed you posting a nice Dovvetail last week when you say you found it but you have only started two threads neather of which we're of something you found.
 

I saw a sword come out of a no name creek near me that was almost 2' long. It was broke in the middle and had been restored. The owner who had a fabulous collection was quick to point out the location of the find and the restoration. I would have had it restored as well since both pieces were there. It stayed in his collection until his death. Fabulous piece. I have posted pics of it on here long ago.

I remember the sword and your correct it was nice, it was a great find.........:icon_thumright:
 

Treasure_Hunter said:
I remember the sword and your correct it was nice, it was a great find.........:icon_thumright:

Ok! I have read that many large artifacts were used for ceremonial purpose and during the ceremony they would release the spirit of the stone, by breaking it. With a piece 2', how does one know it wasn't purposely broken? To restore a piece that is meant to be broken would really suck.
 

Its not always possible but often times that kind of break will appear intentional by the way the break appears on the stone. Force coming from above to break a point leaves a different break pattern than frontal impact. The context is also important.
 

GatorBoy Here ya go fyi I dont post too many of my finds anymore.
!cid__downsized_1122121010.jpg!cid__1123120936a.jpg
 

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Hey.. I forgot about this thread. So I went back and re-read. Nice point for sure. I really just wanted to see more than half of it...thanks.. I wasn't. Trying to be rude although reading my words I could have chose better.
 

Made some changes to the forum, check back again soon...........
 

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