I had a few hours to kill today close to my rock shelter Ive been digging for a while. Not had much luck the last couple time i went. Did pretty good today though.
Tnmtns, man i had to go work on a computer i built for the guy who owns the shelter... so after i fixed it quickly, i figured i had about 2 hours of light left so why not stop and take a chance of coming up with something. i took a 3 fingered scrapper and a small fryer basket as a sifter and scrapped all under the bottom of a big boulder and both came out about 20 inchs from each other. i actually saw them without sifting. i only had about 30 mins notice that i was even going down there.. what would u call this point Tn? ive not had time to get out the book and try to figure. i thought Adena at 1st as well as 37 but not really looked it up yet. i may go back this weekend if i get time maybe sunday. let me kow if u wanna come look..
acid.. u never clean the buildup calcium etc with acid? drop it into brick cleaning acid for a few mins and it all falls off.
im gonna post 2 pics of a Hamilton i dug out covered in calcium that u couldnt scrub off with a toothbrush, and another after it was dropped in acid.
it works good.. be careful though with it.
you wouldnt put the point in the acid? why? its made to clean brick. and brick would soak it in. ive done all my shelter digs that way. and man it really cleaned em nice.
i went back today and dug a couple hours with no rewards. it was getting dark in the shelter so i quit and walked the stream that comes from the mouth of the shelter down about 120 fts down stream, and wow found 2 nice pieces. a wade or buck creek maybe and a nice broken point made into what i think is a hafted scrapper or knife.
what luck just as the sun was going down... never give up..........
that is a very beautiful point, way to go man! the rule kinda goes the same with cleaning coins, shouldnt do it, toothbrush and a mild detergent for artifacts if you need to clean at all.
but why if thats not a stupid question? they are for me to look at and enjoy, and i like to be able to study the stirke marks all over them. if its a value question, im not really worried about that.
is it thought that this will damage them?
or is it a curse? if someone finds one of my forks about 1000 years from now, Im hoping they will pick it up, polish it and display it. and wonder what the last thing was that the owner ate with it..
Tree
Clean them with Muratic if you like, they are like you said for you to look at. The patina does tell a story though but they are yours to do with as you please for sure. Looks like that shelter still has a lot to give.That first one looks like a Lerma but the base is straight and not rounded? Not a copena. I do not know what it is. Kinda looks like a benton that was never notched It's a very nice artifact though.
Those old dry creek beds can be the best places sometimes off those shelters. I remember digging all day and not finding much and started hunting the creek lifting rocks and such and found some nice ones,lol it was much easier too!!
I have to be at the hunt clubs this weekend as Turkey starts but am hopeing to see some plowed fields from last week. No rain yet though on them. I am re-building my old rotted sifters with cypress so will be ready after Turkey season.
Seen a few timber rattlers out and about so keep your eyes peeled. They are shedding and will strike at anything pretty quick when their eyes are blue.
Later man
TnMtns
tree i dint mean anything by it at all, thats why i first said it ur collecion, i enjoy reading your posts, and your shelter, im watching and waiting on you to get to the lower levels. i cant wait too see what comes out, i wish i had a cave to document :P its your collection, do as you please, acid is a nono, yeah if it spills we can graph your skin, but patina , 2 thousand years more to get her back on there try vinigar, soak 10 mins, thats what the east coast TXns do, clears it right off.
thx Chong np man just wasn't too sure about the why? I am keeping detailed pics in folders on each piece and where i found them on my computer for future reference.
thx for all comments....