Horse Creek Chert

[JoeM]

Here's a nodule of horse Creek Chert that I slabbed. Liked the way it came out so
much I decided to keep it like it is for the ol' type collection.
As far as I know Horse Creek Chert is mainly found as float and nodules in the
creeks of some areas of central to eastern Tennessee, but I have "heard" of
a few lucky folks that have found veins to dig.
I know some of you Tennessee folks have seen much more of it than me and I am
curious about the extent of the source. Is it found in Alabama and Kentucky as well?
It really doesn't seem to be a prolific enough material to have been traded to any
great extent, so artifacts made of it are generally found close to home, Tennessee
and surrounding states. I have never found, or seen any found, here in central NC.
I would be very interested to here where artifacts have been found.
BillW made the great point in another thread recently how Horse Creek can easily be
mistaken for the Flint Ridge Flint of Ohio. So true, and there are probably a few
other heated and raw materials it could be confused with. But that RED is unique to
that area of Tennessee, much like the Paint Rock Agates found from West Virginia
to Alabama. Once you've become familiar with it, it can't be matched.
It is without doubt one of my very favorite looking materials.

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HH, JoeM

[greywolf22]

That is pretty material
Jack

[JoeM]

Glad you think so, Jack.
Those reds are just...scarlet!
JoeM

[turkeytail]

One of my favorite materials! Always wanted to acquire an artifact made of it but cant afford one!

[phbarnesjr]

No doubt! Beautiful rocks! Polished?

[itwasluck]

What does it look like whole? And how big would it be? Also if it was in a creekbed would it be by itself? The reason Im asking is cause I have found something but left it cause it was heavy and black about 1.5ft long but shaped like a hornets nest. Let me know

[JoeM]

Heck, turkeytail, I don't SEE many artifacts made out of it!
It's a popular rock now with knappers, but try and find an authentic old one.
Sorry I missed your question about the polish, ph. They have not been polished
but I should have mentioned they were spritzed with water to bring out the color.
Here's a pic of the nodule placed back together, iwl. Mind you this has been all
cleaned up and you'll have to try and imagine what it looked like in the creek.

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In the creek a lot of those rocks are going to look alike. Sometimes the only way
to tell what you have is to break a piece off it. Like this.

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For comparison here are a few pics of a famous western Tennessee lithic material,
a Tennessee chert nodule I would call Hornestone. This type of chert is found in
several mid-western states and is probably the closest thing we have in any great
amount to true flint. (imo)

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The large flake off the side of the nodule would be called a "spall",
or, in this case, since it would have a lot of the outer cortex on it you could
call it a "Primary Decortication Flake" for short.

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JoeM

[turkeytail]

Ya dont see many, but they are out there. See if I can do this right!http://cgi.ebay.com/WHALENS-INDIAN-A...item231193a05e

[turkeytail]

Bob had a small Horse creek knife last week? or week before....70 some bucks, any other material was worth $5 bucks.

[JoeM]

Well, I'll tell you, Mark. I am the worlds worst at judging authenticity from
a picture, so I don't usually comment about it. And I am not familiar with the
dealer or seller of that point on your link, so I don't want to step on any toes
I just don't like the looks of the bottom black areas. Just my opinion but I don't
see any patina on the black and don't like the sharp edges of the basal flaking.
Almost looks like a new base on an old broken point.
Just for the sake of conversation,
JoeM

[turkeytail]

Joe, I dont trust very many dealers but Bob Whalen is one I do. He posted a Dovetail last year that was in SEVERAL big name collections and in Whos-Who publication. He deemed it a modern reproduction. He could have just sold that point on its pedigree but he didnt. He uses the same scope as the top authentication "experts". He has 30+ years in the hobby and values authenticity. I value his opinion as much as ANY of the TOP paid opinion givers.

[JoeM]

Reputation is everything, Mark.
I have looked at many points on the internet that upon seeing them in person
immediately realized how wrong I was.
Thanks for the link.
JoeM

[JrockHunter]

Yes, Horse Creek Chert is also found in NW Alabama.

[modie1165]

I have been told that this is made of Horse Creek Chert.  It was found near the Alabama River near Montgomery.