What’s This

[CreekSide]

I’ve had this piece for a few years now. It was found in a TN creek. Shows some nice flakes removed on both sides. The fat end shows use wear and the end that tapers down shows some thinning but doesn’t show use wear on it. It’s a thick piece for the size of it. I’m not going to throw any guesses cause I keep changing my mind. Maybe you guys can give it a I.D. For me. I’d appreciate knowing. Thanks
Last picture is the blunted end

 

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[MikeG0242]

I’ve had this piece for a few years now. It was found in a TN creek. Shows some nice flakes removed on both sides. The fat end shows use wear and the end that tapers down shows some thinning but doesn’t show use wear on it. It’s a thick piece for the size of it. I’m not going to throw any guesses cause I keep changing my mind. Maybe you guys can give it a I.D. For me. I’d appreciate knowing. Thanks
Last picture is the blunted end

hard to tell without touching it, but it looks like it could be a piece of flint or chert used by indians to make arrowheads. It's sometimes found in creeks. So it could be a piece they used or a piece they would have, had it been found. pretty cool

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Looks like a blank piece of chert.

 

[Buckleberry]

Preform or chopper.

 

[unclemac]

I have one of those... I figure it to either be a sort of core or a hand held chopper the likes of which go back ....what?... a million years to homo-erectus and beyond

hand held chopper homo erectus - Google Search

www.google.com

 

[opalboy]

Quarry blank. Biface.

 

[antmike915]

I've found some like that. I always thought they were blanks or something unfinished.

 

[Fossils]

Classic early-stage preform or quarry blank. Here's an informative read on preforms and the stages of blade reduction.

The Quarries (U.S. National Park Service)

www.nps.gov

 

[ToddsPoint]

Nodule that was tested and rejected. Many reasons to reject a piece. When you remove a spall and it makes a clunk noise you know it has an internal crack. That one looks like it is too thick compared to width. By the time you thinned it, you would not have enough width to finish it. When you have a creek full of nodules, it’s easier to find a better one than to struggle to work one that is marginal.

 

[Blackfoot58]

I also wonder about a preform. Looks to have potential for a hoe or a chopper.

 

[CreekSide]

I also wonder about a preform. Looks to have potential for a hoe or a chopper.

I thought possibly a hoe but it’s to thick for one. That’s why I asked. Seems like a good piece of chert but could be a preform

 

[CreekSide]

Nodule that was tested and rejected. Many reasons to reject a piece. When you remove a spall and it makes a clunk noise you know it has an internal crack. That one looks like it is too thick compared to width. By the time you thinned it, you would not have enough width to finish it. When you have a creek full of nodules, it’s easier to find a better one than to struggle to work one that is marginal.

TN has plenty of chert in their creeks so could be

 

[CreekSide]

Classic early-stage preform or quarry blank. Here's an informative read on preforms and the stages of blade reduction.

The Quarries (U.S. National Park Service)

www.nps.gov

Thanks for the information

 

[CreekSide]

I've found some like that. I always thought they were blanks or something unfinished.

I haven’t ever found one this big so I had to ask

 

[CreekSide]

Quarry blank. Biface.

Thanks for your reply

 

[CreekSide]

I have one of those... I figure it to either be a sort of core or a hand held chopper the likes of which go back ....what?... a million years to homo-erectus and beyond

hand held chopper homo erectus - Google Search

www.google.com

TN is rich in old culture, thanks

 

[CreekSide]

Preform or chopper.

Very possible I will have to look and see if any use wear shows on the thinner side. Never thought of possibly a chopper. If no use wear it will be a preform, thanks for your insight

 

[newnan man]

I agree with Todd's Point. Looks like the old boy gave it a few licks, said nope & chucked it back.

 

[Older The Better]

To me it looks like the fat end shows crushing, if true, that would mean it was more than a preform since it was used… my mind goes to a wedge to split things… did na’s split logs? Anyway if I’m wrong about the crushing then I’m team preform too

 

[ToddsPoint]

I think they used igneous rocks for wedges. Hitting a flint wedge would likely shatter it.
When I walk a creek looking for knapping flint I test dozens of nodules and reject most before I find one that is suitable. You are looking for one good one out of ten or even one out of a hundred bad ones. Creeks with a flint supply are loaded with 10,000 yrs of previously tested nodules and reject bifaces laying everywhere.