Busted Gorget and a ?

[OBION]

I had a friend come by today and show his finds from last year; we hunt the same area here in NW Tn. He had some nice pieces. The material on the gorget is petrified wood and is awesome; is petrified wood commonly used for gorgets?

The point that stood out looking different than anything I have seen from around here is pictured below. Appears to be dark dover/fort payne;Any Ideas?

[OBION]

[gregszybala]

You sure the gorget isn't banded slate but stained? Other than color it looks like it. Maybe there is a brown banded slate as well?
Karnak Stemmed? or maybe more likely a Saratoga Expanding Stem? That stem is loooong. Cool point.

[OBION]

Maybe it is banded slate; I have never found or handled any.  It looked just like you took a palm sander to a 2x4 :laugh:
The point was a creek find and in my limited experience just doesn't look like most stuff from around here.

[Kyflintguy]

My guess is the Gorget is some type of banded slate. The blade reminds me of the Copena type, shield form. I believe the neck is just a little more constricted than most examples you see, but the Copena type fits the area well and was commonly made from Dover.

[OBION]

I've been researching gorgets, excuse my naiveness.  Most are slate and I see the banded pattern!

[rmartin]

Kyflintguy wrote:

My guess is the Gorget is some type of banded slate. The blade reminds me of the Copena type, shield form. I believe the neck is just a little more constricted than most examples you see, but the Copena type fits the area well and was commonly made from Dover.

  I agree on both counts. I love Dover!

[JoshinMO]

Like that long stemmed point! :woohoo:

[Hoss]

My impression was Copena as well I agree banded slate brother. both nice artifacts too.

[OBION]

Awesome to have you guys!

[SDhunter]

Love that knife.   Wonder who the chief was that wore that Gorget?    I guess I'm assuming they were mostly worn by chiefs.

[kayakaddict]

(in an Aussie dialect) Now that's a knife lol.  The darker color could be from minerals in the water.  Was it brackish, or salt water?

[CoachG]

Agreed with KY. What a stem on the bottom piece. Awesome finds by your friend.

[OBION]

kayakaddict wrote:

(in an Aussie dialect) Now that's a knife lol.  The darker color could be from minerals in the water.  Was it brackish, or salt water?

  All fresh water around here (nw Tn) ! The creek stain could be contributing to its darker appearance

[clovisoid]

Gorget, smorget....  That other piece is really cool and would probably perk the eyes of some local collectors.
The Mississippian people in Tennessee and Kentucky made small "daggers" or handheld knives, and I think that's what you might have.  Dagger is really just a European term for them, they were probably simple utilitarian knives.  Some people think they are a continuation of the Woodland Copena tradition, kind of like a super Copena on steroids.  Some of the groups in Illinois also made a similar handled knife that is typically clumped in with Morse blades.  They usually have a formed, distinct handle.
You can see the stylized versions in the Duck River Cache, but most of them are aren't ceremonial beauties.  There are a couple of collectors who have frames of them that are regulars at shows in the area.  Not a common find.