My newest puzzle. The Mrs. found this in a corn field overlooking a Massachusetts river where it empties into the Atlantic. Many years ago. Looked like a tool at the time. But stood out because in 50 years I have never seen this material in this region. Been looking at it. The lighter photos are truest color, it's pretty much an off white material. English flint? That would make it a Contact era piece. First 2 pics are side A and 3rd is side B. the breakage on the face of side B reveals an interior that reminds me more of porcelain then chert?! Don't see chert/flint around here near enough to have seen much or know much, really. I had heard of worked glass in Contact times, but worked porcelain? Nah, I don't think so, but...
So, first thought was combo tool, beginning with an end scraper, or perhaps slight steepedge:
Then I noticed what might be a graver spur, seen here side A and side B.
Side A upper right corner:
Close up:
Side A, lower left corner:
Side B, upper left corner:
Side B, lower right corner:
So, I'm wondering, gravers found in all time periods but end scrapers with graver spurs are a common Paleo tool. In addition, early Paleo lithics in New England are usually exotics obtained at great distance. And in 50 years, I've never seen this material. So, maybe a Paleo end scraper with graver spur? Thoughts? I know that(Paleo) cannot really be ascertained from a single isolated artifact. But, does the material look familiar to anybody? Does it look like an end scraper, graver, abrader(concave sides)? Does it look like English flint? Any help or insight appreciated.
A page describing gravers:
http://www.lithiccastinglab.com/gall...averspage1.htm
So, first thought was combo tool, beginning with an end scraper, or perhaps slight steepedge:
Then I noticed what might be a graver spur, seen here side A and side B.
Side A upper right corner:
Close up:
Side A, lower left corner:
Side B, upper left corner:
Side B, lower right corner:
So, I'm wondering, gravers found in all time periods but end scrapers with graver spurs are a common Paleo tool. In addition, early Paleo lithics in New England are usually exotics obtained at great distance. And in 50 years, I've never seen this material. So, maybe a Paleo end scraper with graver spur? Thoughts? I know that(Paleo) cannot really be ascertained from a single isolated artifact. But, does the material look familiar to anybody? Does it look like an end scraper, graver, abrader(concave sides)? Does it look like English flint? Any help or insight appreciated.
A page describing gravers:
http://www.lithiccastinglab.com/gall...averspage1.htm
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