pointy rocks
phut
Posts: 1,087 ✭
Got a nice surprise at the post office yesterday from the Pointy Rock Guru (goldrush00013). My eyes about bugged out when I opened the package.
These all came in a cool display case with a hand drawn survey map on the back.
Thanks John!!
Could I trouble you with a little history lesson on these?
These all came in a cool display case with a hand drawn survey map on the back.
Thanks John!!
Could I trouble you with a little history lesson on these?
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<< <i>Could I trouble you with a little history lesson on these? >>
How about a pre-history lesson?
From left to right we have an Archaic Sidenotched Point made of Black Coshocton flint which was quarried in Coshocton County Ohio. These points have been found at very low levels of strata which indicate an age of maybe 7,500 BC.
Next example is a Meadowood Point made of Gray Coshocton flint. These are not a common flint type in Ohio and date to around 2,500 to 1,000 BC. They are related to the Meadowood Phase of New York and have been found with burials there.
Then we have a Hopewell Point made of a cream colored Flint Ridge Flint which is quarried in Licking County Ohio. Hopewell dates to 200 BC to 500 AD. The Hopewell people also known as Longheads (because you guessed it. They had extremely long heads!) were mound builders. They built huge ground enclosures with mounds dotted within to bury their dead.
Last example is an actual arrowhead known as a Birdpoint, which is made of Flint Ridge Flint. I say "actual arrowhead" because this point did tip an arrow. Most of the flint artifacts pictured were en vogue long before the bow was invented, and are either knife and scraper tools or lance points which were propelled by the use of an ATL-ATL or spear thrower. Bird points date back to at least 2,000 BC.
Next photo from left to right we have a Heavy Duty Serrated Point made of Blue-Black Coshocton Flint.(also known as bird dropping variety to some collectors) These points date early in the Archaic time period at around 6,800 BC. Serrations are present on all examples and point toward their use as a knife.
Second point is a Wide Based Dovetail made of purple and cream colored Flint Ridge Flint. Dovetail points date to 5,000 BC and are one of the most sought after types by collectors.(which makes it one of the most often faked flint types) I assure you your's is authentic!
Third we have a Fishspear Point made of Black Coshocton Flint which has an estimated date of 4,000 to 5,000 BC. These points seem to have been subject to very hard use as it is tough to find an example which is unbroken. I prolly have 30 or so that I've found but only 3 examples are whole.
Finally we have a St. Albans Bifurcate made of Black Coshocton which has developed a reddish patina. One of the earliest Bifurcate types, these points were first reported at the St. Albans site in West Virginia. They were dated at the site to 6,800 BC.
Next photo shows a Stringtown Lanceolate made of Black Coshocton. The Coshocton quarries were one of the most exploited flint quarries in the US. with examples laying in the uncounted millions. Stringtown Lanceolates were first discovered at the Stringtown site on Stringtown road south of Columbus OH. They date to 8,000 BC and is the earliest type of all examples shown.
Second is a Bird Point made of Gray Coshocton.
Third is a Hopewell Point made of translucent Flint Ridge Chalcedony.
Last is a Lanceolate Point made of Black Coshocton and dates to 8,000 BC and is related to the Stringtown example.
Well I have to cut this short and take up the rest of the examples this evening. I had the entire post almost done, but the server burped and spit a blank post at me.
So I'll finish this little Ohio Archeology 101 class later this evening when I get back.
Thanks for the great pics and background information!
Technically, fossils are rocks, too, so maybe we can find some even older pointy rocks when you're down here.
From left to right we have a Flint Ridge flint Hafted Scraper made from a Hopewell point. When points became damaged from use they were often made into scrapers if enough material was left. The broken edge was rechipped to form a steep bevel. These were used to scrape hides, wood and bone, as far as we know.
Next is a Hopewell Point made of Flint Ridge flint. The Hopewell culture was one of the largest and widespread cultures in the US. I've probably found more Hopewell Points than any other type.
Third is another Hafted Scraper made of Black Coshocton. This scraper was salvadged from a Pentagonal Point and dates to 4,000 BC.
Last is a an unknown point type as it appears to be a broken blade that was salvadged by adding new notches. This was often done in prehistoric times as flint was a very valuable commodity and people had to travel great distances to obtain it.
In the last pic we have a crude knife made of heavily patinated Gray Coshocton. Knives are tough to date since every prehistoric culture used them. Much research is needed to break down these implements into time periods.
Second is an Archaic Drill made of Flint Ridge flint. Like knives it is tough to date drills because there was little change in their design over the many years the US was populated by prehistoric peoples.
Third we have a Pendant made of slate which was likely quarried in the Lake Huron area. This piece was salvadged from a broken implement. The broken edges were ground smooth and a hole was drilled from both sides till they met. Slate artifacts are extremely rare and unbroken examples are even rarer. Many people hunt a lifetime and never find a complete specimen. I've been blessed with 5 complete examples so far.
Finally we have a tiny Drill made on a Birdpoint. Made of Coshocton Flint this drill tip is extremely thin and quite sharp on the tip. Drills are really tough to find unbroken as is expected due to their thinness.
Well I hope I've enlightened you all a little about these artifacts. Now get out there and find a nice one in your area!
John
<< <i>Speaking of Native American artifacts AND fossils, John's pendant in the picture above reminds me... I have seen photos of a prehistoric megalodon shark tooth like the one I posted above, which had been drilled and worn as a pendant by an Indian. That to me would be a doubly fascinating item- a multimillion year old fossil turned into a multithousand year old artifact! >>
It's funny you should mention that. I was just reading about the Hopewell farm earthworks here in OH. Drilled and grooved sharks teeth were found in one of the burials of an adult male. They were imported quite a ways from their source along with some conch shell dippers and pendants. It is amazing the trade routes prehistoric peoples had, particularly during Hopewell times. Ohio Hopewell inventories include mica from the Carolinas, copper and silver from the Lake Superior region, galena from ILL. , quartz crystal from Arkansas, novaculite from Missouri, garnet crystals from Tennessee, chlorite from the Carolinas, obsidian from Yellowstone, and many materials yet to be identified. I've read that some burials have yielded alligator teeth, barracuda jaws, swordfish bills, and grizzly bear teeth.
mart
I have them displayed in my office here at home)
that's some cool history
<< <i>These are all really awesome. I would love to find one just sitting there on the ground. When's the best time to find them, in spring or early summer when the rivers are fast and full, or in late summer early full when the rivers are really low and slow? Or does it even matter? Obviously my searching would be around a river, in this case probably the Washougal River in Washington State. >>
Silversanta if you are talking about hunting streams they can pretty much be searched anytime. I personally rarely hunt streams, as most of my finds come from plowed fields in the fall thru spring.
Do you have pics of you best, or favorites.
Lord M, One of those pointy biting devices sure would look good in my collection. Can't wait to get down there and start my working vacation. Do I have to learn to say y'all, or is it more fun for y'all to pick on the Yankee accent?
<< <i> Wow!! Thanks John, that was a great lesson. I'll print it out and add it to the display case. >>
<< <i>Do you have pics of you best, or favorites. >>
No problem Tim.
Unfortunately no not on this computer. I'll do a search in the GCD Forum and see if any of my old threads are around. I deleted most of my pics for award space till I started using a host.
I'm looking for Pointy rocks for my militaria collection, hiw much would ya say each of the pointy rocks would cost, They look soo cool!!!
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Need a Banner Made? PM ME!
Proud member of the CUFYNA
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My dads cousin owns a place in Cave City KY. that sells little pointed rocks just like those.