Bayport Chert, MI

[Bayport]

Since I'm from Michigan, you know I have a "few" samples.

[tomclark]

Beautiful, Man!

[Bayport]

Thanks! I forgot to put in a size reference. The center piece is 6 7/8 inches long. That is the largest, complete Bayport Chert Hopewell I've ever seen... plus...double Bulls Eye.

[Kyflintguy]

Love seeing a frame full of artifacts made from one material. That's a killer frame! Thanks for sharing!

[Bayport]

You are welcome 👍

[gregszybala]

Great introduction! Great frame of points. Bayport may not be the prettiest chert but it was the chert of Michigan. Welcome.
Are these personal finds and what part of Michigan are you in?

[Bayport]

I wish they were personal finds, but they are the result of years (decades) of attending local auctions and a couple from Old Barn and a Rollands Auction. Prior to the internet, I could hit multiple local sales on a Saturday/Sunday. Now days, that activity has been reduced to only one or two local sales a year at best. I'm in Eaton County, so it was an easy drive to sales in Barry, Kent, Ionia, Ingham, Clinton, Shiawassee, Livingston, Kalamazoo, Calhoun, Jackson and Washtenaw counties. I have to be honest, that I don't object to the occasional "exotic" chert that made it into Michigan from Ohio, Indiana and Illinois for example.

[gregszybala]

Auctions aren't what they used to be. Thanks, I used to live in Livingston county.

[Kyflintguy]

I'm kinda the same way with certain lithics from my home state of Kentucky. Especially those lithics that can only be found there, in my case Boyle Chert . Its not the prettiest Chert but was prized by the Natives who lived there from Paleo- Mississipian times. Good to see I'm not the only person with this localized lithic addiction lol.

[Bayport]

I agree fully. Bayport Chert was used in Michigan from Early Paleoindian on down thru Late Woodland too. There are other cherts from Michigan, such as Bois Blanc, Stony Creek, 10 Mile Creek, Norwood and De Tour... as well as Quartzites, and Copper.

[Pinetree1]

Boyle can be beautiful especially if it's heat treated. Some of it reminds me of Flintridge!

[Ron Kelley]

WOW That is a great display of Bayport chert artifacts. Many different types and the double bullseye is awesome.

[Bayport]

Thanks, Ron.

[Hi-Lo]

That’s truly incredible. Thanks for sharing.

[Bayport]

You are welcome, Hi-Lo. One of these days I'll have to put together another Bayport frame with some Hi-Lo examples included...

[Hoss]

Those are some fine looking artifacts Thank you for sharing them with us.

[Bayport]

You are welcome. There were amazing artifacts made on Bayport Chert. That's not what a lot of folks think, when they hear "Bayport."

[SDhunter]

Those are awesome. It’s nice to see so many examples of that lithic. A guy can learn better. Thanks!

[Bayport]

Thanks! That's the way I like to see a lithic display as well. Bayport (like other lithics) has many different looks to it.

[Andy W.]

I know "Turkeytail" would've been all over this thread. RIP

[Bayport]

Yes he certainly would have liked the frame. Great guy, and very knowledgeable. He did see some of the specimens in the frame, in the past.

[Bayport]

Here is another set of Bayport artifacts, from late Paleo to late Woodland. Put in several Hi-Lo specimens.

[gregszybala]

Bayport, do you mind if I put these pics in the lithics area of the info section? Great photos showing the Bayport well.

[Bayport]

That’s fine with me. Perhaps those will help change the perceptions regarding Bayport Chert.

[gregszybala]

Lol, it is strange, but it does have that! Thanks