Who Keeps records of their finds?

[coalfire]

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/stoneage/fenn-08.html

This link is of a great old piece. I wanted to know how many of my fellow forum members actually keep a record of some type of their finds? Personally I believe everyone needs to. The link shows that a great piece but it has no provenance or history. Making it in essence just a nice piece to look at. Some people out there buy and sell. Me, personally I don't and don't like the practice. But for those that do this piece is worthless. Historically, it may show style but lacks the depth of knowledge. ( like tribe, Wars, animal or job made for...) If we are lucky the stone can be identified, thus a region to associate then a people.

This great link is from the flintknapping post above the forum.[/i]

To me, there is a historical imperative for each of us to keep these peoples history alive. To all of you that don't please start one asap. When we get old some of us are not going to have time or maybe clarity of thought to go back and make a record. I want to give my collection to my children, (and hopefully they also will enjoy the hobby) to protect and maybe pass down to theirs. Or If this does not occur they will be given to a museum.

Tell me what you think and if you have a suggestion to improve mine please post it.
Respects to all.
~Z~

 

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[The Grim Reaper]

I used to actually write a number right on the artifact and catalogue everything, but now I just keep everything separated by site.

 

[StevefromMissouri]

I used to do the same as DorkFish (write number on each one and log it on paper), but now I just write in pencil on the artifact which creek I find them out of. I don't really hunt sites anymore.

Steve

 

[seger98]

The old copper artifacts that I find, I write down the location that I found it like this:

Found in the SE of the SW sec. 23 T41N - R8E

The above is a made up location... But when I'm dead & gone, someone will know where I found my stuff down to the quarter section

 

[unitas]

Keeping accurate records of your finds is a must. I assign site numbers to my pieces and keep a record of my sites. Taking in situs and photos of the diff. sites is also a way to keep an accurate record on top of the numerical system.Taking the time to document gives the piece a story and a provinance.I'd much rather have a documented small artifact than a fine artifact whose history is a mystery.

 

[newnan man]

I write the county and state on the point with a fine point sharpie. I should do better I guess.

 

[GL]

I place mine haphazardly in carved wooden boxes I keep on my headboard. The larger pieces are arranged randomly around the two boxes in no particular pattern.
None of mine are marked or logged although I can at a glance remember when and where each is from.

 

[Americus]

I keep mine individually in small plastic bags. I have a small slip of paper with the name of the field (my personal name for it) and the date that I found it.

 

[razor]

Hey Zeowolf, Absolutly! Even the stuff I don't put a number on I at least put an identifier as to where the piece was found at. Sure, I can tell you where most of, if not all of, my finds came from, but one day someone else will wind up with them. My kids I'm sure will end up with the bulk, but I do want some to go to the local University. The sad fact is, most people around here do not realize what they have in their own back yard or the rich Indian heratiage of the area.
I've set up an Excel file and it takes just a matter of seconds to update the file with a point. I was hoping I could attach the file, but I can't figure out how. I include the number, type, material, size, location found, date found or purchased, and how aquired. If I purchased the point, or it was given to me, then I put who I recieved the point from. Ray

 

[*Molly*]

I log everything I find. I can even remember the exact location in the fields where each of mine were found. I hunt on one Campsite, so its easier to remember where I found them. Marking them is a must. Its surprising just how many ppl come across finds from the earlier years, in attics, with no markings or log books. Paper work gets lost, so best to mark the actual points. Ppl only show points best side up anyways, so it don't harm them marking them on the backs.

Molly.

 

[Carolina Points]

cool post im like a couple of you I haven't wrote any thing down but I can take you to the 4 different sites i hunt and tell you where I found each one of them. After reading this post I am going to start keeping records for the people you might get these when im gone 8)
Clint

 

[Cannonman17]

The old copper artifacts that I find, I write down the location that I found it like this:

Found in the SE of the SW sec. 23 T41N - R8E

The above is a made up location... But when I'm dead & gone, someone will know where I found my stuff down to the quarter section

That's pretty much what I do, I put a number right on the artifact #12/08 for example in whiteout in an inconspicuous spot then go over it with clear nail polish. That number is then put in a log book with a sketch and detailed site location down to the quarter section and sometimes even broken down further. I have one log book that chronicles the finds of about 50 sites, I only recorded a handful with the state so it will be a real treasure hunt to somebody in the future.

 

[coalfire]

A way of marking the point is to dab a little line of white out then in pencil or fine pen write the info or markings as you do then maybe go over it with a very light clear coat of nail polish or varnish. This way it can be removed easy if need arise. Then I take a book and write it down. I also make maps on quadrofil paper (I know I mispelled that.) I mean the paper with little blue squares. Some peole think I am nuts but I have gone back to marked sites and found more stuff, like pottery.

For anyone interested I found a program to download that tells you what a point is. It looks like a DOS program and regional point typeing. Meaning that what I call a point is different sometimes from say in Florida or North Carolina.
I will look it up tonight and see if I can get you all the link. The program is cheap in quality but Free in cost. I wish someone would create both a journaling and a point typeing program that is up to todays standards.
~Z~

 

[StevefromMissouri]

Does anyone know how to insert a picture into an excel file so it becomes one of the actual entries instead of just a "floating" pic?

 

[PALEOMAN]

i always catalogue my finds. i will write on an artifact if its an isolated find, otherwise place them with others of a known site/area which are catalogued in groups. provenance is so important because we dont own these relics, were just caretakers for a while before their passed on. every piece tells a story and part of that story is where they came from.