since I joined T-net.

[GatorBoy]

Just posting some favorite finds from the past year. I've enjoyed sharing, learning and getting to know several great people since I joined. Its been a good year.

 

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[GatorBoy]

 

[GatorBoy]

 

[GatorBoy]

 

[GatorBoy]

 

[GatorBoy]

I was stuck in traffic this afternoon because of a fatal car accident. It gave me time to think... and give thanks.

 

[NC field hunter]

I was stuck in traffic this afternoon because of a fatal car accident. It gave me time to think... and give thanks.

Sorry you had to bear witness to the aftermath of such a tragedy. That occurrence always leaves me hollow feeling. I suppose that hollow feeling is my realizing how fragile life is. Nice finds bro!!

 

[NC field hunter]

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=704228"/>

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=704229"/>

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=704239"/>

Gator, is their any way you could post a pic of the bit on your Celt? I know you said no agricultural work was done by the natives in your area, but that bit and slanted hafting mark looks similar to what I see on spades/hoes around here. Is it straight across on the top, and only ground on one side?

 

[capt-zero]

Beautiful finds!

 

[Gold Maven]

I used to drive a lot building bridges all over Ohio, and saw several fatals up close. It always amazed me how easily it happens, and how easily most of them could have been avoided.
People get in a big rush when they are driving, for what? To get home 2 minutes sooner? Texting and driving is the latest menace, no end in sight for that.

 

[NC field hunter]

I used to drive a lot building bridges all over Ohio, and saw several fatals up close. It always amazed me how easily it happens, and how easily most of them could have been avoided.
People get in a big rush when they are driving, for what? To get home 2 minutes sooner? Texting and driving is the latest menace, no end in sight for that.

I spend a lot of time on the road also. I hate to see people going 75 on a phone. I have noticed while on the road, one can determine the class of people in an area by it's traffic. I'm not going by the number of nice cars either.

 

[GatorBoy]

Thanks Ya'll here is the bit N.C. most of the shell Celts I find have been broken by impact. They don't show the wear that would show quite quickly on shell of being used as a hoe. Its also very well documented that they were never farmers. The lagoon system and the St. Johns river in my area provided ample food from salt and fresh water. Plus very abundant plant life. The need to farm never really existed.

 

[GatorBoy]

Here's one with some damage

 

[GatorBoy]

Here's a pretty good example of the hafting.

 

[NC field hunter]

Here's a pretty good example of the hafting.

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=704275"/>

Yes, the wrap. I may have called it the wrong name, when I said Celt. Is it a Celt, or adze? I just picture celts being ground at an angle on both faces.

 

[GatorBoy]

The entire surface has been ground. more so on one side then the other to give it the proper working angle for the job these guys we're using them for. they would work like a swinging wood chisel. these were used for making dugout canoes along the bank of a local waterway. Picture yourself straddling over a palm log swinging this tool downward between your feet in order to carve out the center of the log. They made an adze tool out of shell here also. Those were Hafted at a right angle to the handle. Here Is one of those. this one also took a pretty good whack. notice how the bit is curved just like it's stone cousin.

 

[NC field hunter]

The entire surface has been ground. more so on one side then the other to give it the proper working angle for the job these guys we're using them for. they would work like a swinging wood chisel. these were used for making dugout canoes along the bank of a local waterway. Picture yourself straddling over a palm log swinging this tool downward between your feet in order to carve out the center of the log. They made an adze tool out of shell here also. Those were Hafted at a right angle to the handle. Here Is one of those. this one also took a pretty good whack. notice how the bit is curved just like it's stone cousin.

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=704298"/>

It did take a whack. I have only found one conch shell in my life. It was just a shell, no artifact. It was pretty thick and strong but nothing near as thick and durable as most of your pieces. What I'm getting to is, does shell hold up as well as stone? I know workmanship on any piece is what determines it's durability, but as for a natural material, which would hold up best?

 

[GatorBoy]

Stone of course is better. but when in an area good lithic material doesn't occur naturally and has to be brought in it's the next best choice in this area. I read a report specifically done on that subject using the queen conch as the subject. that's the type of shell those celts are made from. it said The shell material pressure tested the same as mid grade chert.

 

[NC field hunter]

Stone of course is better. but when in an area good lithic material doesn't occur naturally and has to be brought in it's the next best choice in this area. I read a report specifically done on that subject using the queen conch as the subject. that's the type of shell those celts are made from. it said The shell material pressure tested the same as mid grade chert.

I was thinking the two would be about titt-for-tatt! Queen conch looks pretty tough. It seems logical that both lithics have pros and cons. Going on appearance alone, I would guess shell is easier to put an edge on, and probably a nicer edge. How well it holds up?? I have no clue. I hate to bomb you with questions, but I have one more. Have any grooved shell artifacts been found? Like grooved axes, hammers, mauls.... You know.

 

[flyinryan2]

Congrats on all your finds for the year so far!!!