SRV - The Grim Reaper

[Twitch]

SRV - I know some people don't appreciate the repeated answers of 'no' to the 'is this an artifact?' posts. For me though, people are asking and if you're going to take the time to read the post and you have an opinion as to whether it is or is not an artifact you might as well have the decency to take the time to answer. It's not trying to be rude, it's trying to politely respond to a honest question. To me 4 or 5 no's are better than 200 views and no responses.

Joe (a fellow bearer of bad news)

 

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[The Grim Reaper]

This is the way I see it Joe. I have been collecting for 46 years and I think I have a pretty good knowledge of what is and what isn't an artifact. I'm not saying I am always 100% right, but I would be willing to bet it's in the mid to high 90's% range. I don't try to be rude, though I guess sometimes it may come off like that and for that I apologize to anyone who may think so. All I am doing is trying to educate people on what is and isn't an artifact so they don't end up bringing a bunch of items that are just rocks home. I wish I had had someone to do that for me when I first started. I had tons of stuff that was just rocks and not even close to being an artifact that I had to go through and clean out as my knowledge of what it and isn't an artifact got a lot sharper.

I have seen other people get on here and other web sites and blow smoke up peoples rear ends telling them that something is an artifact when it clearly isn't and then later on when someone else comes along and tells them it isn't they get mad or defensive because so and so said it was. I just think it is better to tell them the truth right off the bat and then if they still want to think it's something then so be it. It's theirs and they can think what they want I guess.

 

[buzzgator]

I would much rather be told a honest opinion than have smoke blown up my arse by telling me what someone may think i want to hear! I am by no means an expert and generaly know if my rock is a artifact or geofact. Most of my questions center around type, which confuses the heck out of me, mostly thanx to overstreets help with confuseing me! Geez hate even getting started on his books! Must say Im getting better havent picked his guide up in over a month! F/s cheap 2011 overstreet! Lol. Anyway there are a few guys whos opinions on here always seem to be spot on and you guy are 2 of them! Keep up the good work and thank you. P.S. Joe when we guna hit a field or creek again? Lookin for a cheap kayak tired of draggin this big canoe down my creeks!

 

[WV sifter]

Arrowhead hunting is alot like hunting for ginseng "if you have to double check or look at it twice 99% of the time its NOTHING!

 

[catherine1]

Now wait a minute WV. I know what g-seng looks like. As for artifacts. Well i will dig a little over the weekend. Most of the? artifacts are geofacts as SRV explained. Even weird finds on a know site are questionable. But we have a pretty good idea on the real stuff. At least I do.

 

[naturegirl]

nice profile change SVR!

 

[flintdigger]

Very interesting discussion here. I agree I would much rather have someone tell me the truth about an object or artifact and be a bit dissapointed, than to have them avoid telling me the truth. I like the profile photo change also.

 

[WV sifter]

It just seems like everytime i find something that i have to second guess on,it turns out to be nothing,but i do understand what you mean about the"questionable" pieces.

 

[Bent-Twig]

this is ginseng!!

 

[Bent-Twig]

this is an artifact!!

 

[Neogeo]

Har.....Now we can call him GRV....

 

[naturegirl]

Har.....Now we can call him GRV....

 

[WV sifter]

Believe me i know what ginseng looks like ive found pounds upon pounds of it ,but like i said sometimes ill be in the woods and look over and think "is that a sang?" ,and when i think that and take a closer look it NEVER is,believe me i know a sang when i see it just as well as i know artifacts when i see them,some i may not now what they where used for but i know they are artifacts hence the "questionable pieces" and then there are the others that are just rocks ,im no fool i was just sayin if ya have to second guess it usually its nothing,how many "is this an artifact" posts do you see that turns out to indeed be an artifact...not very many thats for sure!

 

[chong2]

is this an artifact? W Texas find

 

[Twitch]

Could be, would be easy to tell with it out of the sand!!!!!

I'm guessing yes?

 

[Jonzer]

You guys are getting me all excited talkin bout arrowheads and ginseng. I have 5 pounds of dry root to sell. hee hee.

 

[MarkDz]

I sure prefer a "no" when a "no" is in order. I used to bring home bags of plow-scarred rocks and imagine they were something. Someone told me "no" and it stung a little but then I learned the ropes and can now find decent real artifacts. It's just part of the learning process.
Giving an educated "no" is better than lying or saying nothing.
SRV clearly knows an awful lot and we're lucky he's willing to share