Type?

[Huskerhunter]

I found this in a creek in S.E. Nebraska. It measures 2 3/4 in. long by 1 1/2 in. wide. Just wondering how old it is. The base is confusing me because it looks like it might be broke, but it doesn't at the same time. It looks like it's fluted, but that could be from breakage too. Thoughts
?




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[Huskerhunter]

The other side. Fluted or not?

 

[SOHIO]

definitely has a break in second picture bottom of pc you can see the patina is different than rest of pc which i would say is an archaic knife 3-6000 years old

 

[SOHIO]

I don't see any fluting

 

[old digger]

Difficult to ''type'' due to basal damage, from possible inpact breakage. Either knife or large point. By the way nice find!

 

[rock]

Id say knife I have a few in that shape and that size. I will show one if you dont mind so you can compare. Now of course it could of been used as a spear head for fish I would say it could go either way. I know if I was hungry and their was fish to spear I would make it work. Nice artifact either way.

 

[old digger]

''Just for thought'' If the presumed artifact was a ''point'', would not the damage to it's base be caused by it being used as a projectile point, rather than a hafted knife?? I surmise that it would be somewhat difficult for a stone knife to break at the base, unless it was intentionally (held by the handle) smacked against a hard surface breaking where it was hafted. If you notice that the break follows out into the neck. Just Conjecture?

 

[rock]

The break looks fresh as in recent, might of happened in the creek.

 

[SOHIO]

The break looks fresh as in recent, might of happened in the creek.

I agree , .........old digger makes a good point but if it broke on the haft then the patina should be the same....if you look at the first picture at base you can just see it leaning more towards a knife I mean you can just kinda tell it kept rounding off there. I could tell more if i seen the break sideways.

 

[NC field hunter]

''Just for thought'' If the presumed artifact was a ''point'', would not the damage to it's base be caused by it being used as a projectile point, rather than a hafted knife?? I surmise that it would be somewhat difficult for a stone knife to break at the base, unless it was intentionally (held by the handle) smacked against a hard surface breaking where it was hafted. If you notice that the break follows out into the neck. Just Conjecture?

Digger, that is food for thought. I would suppose on how well the piece was made and rather or not the stone had any weak places.

 

[rock]

Mine is an old stone and made from Coastal Plains Chert.

 

[Huskerhunter]

Wow, thanks for all the input. At least I know that I'm not the only one who is having contradicting thoughts on it. I will post different angles of the break. But heck, I'll take Archaic knife all day long.....

 

[NC field hunter]

Digger, that is food for thought. I would suppose on how well the piece was made and rather or not the stone had any weak places.

Digger, I know these are two totally different type blades, but look at the bade on mine. I found it over the weekend, and an amateur must have napped this one. The base is so thin. It would easily break before the body of the piece.

 

[Huskerhunter]

 

[old digger]

Digger, I know these are two totally different type blades, but look at the bade on mine. I found it over the weekend, and an amateur must have napped this one. The base is so thin. It would easily break before the body of the piece.

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It's possible that it was knapped by the newbe, or else it was just not finished. As for the thinness near the base, an example oof somewhat similarity is the basal thinness of a Folsom point. Even with a flute and a narrow base they were quite efficent in delivering maxium strength and penetration.