Hornstone Nodules / Cores

[Ron Kelley]

The rock sitting on the bar stool is an 85 pound hornstone nodule. Ancient spalls were removed from the entire surface. I kept this core because this is an unusual way to spall a nodule.

The rock in the gif file is a hornstone nodule that was first split nearly in half from end to end. Then spalls were removed. This is the common way that the ancient people spalled a large nodule. I continued the spalling process and used this one to knap points and knives.

[Kentucky point]

There is no blue showing. The hornstone is on the inside? Do you think the tool that Jim Bee found has knappable material inside? It is a very interesting piece.

[Ron Kelley]

Hey Ethan, The ten pound rock that Jim Bee showed had many spalls removed. Spalling is part of the knapping process. That rock would not flake as easily as some of my favorite lithics but it is certainly knappable.

[Ron Kelley]

Hey Ethan, The nodule in the gif file had many ancient spalls removed. The longest of those ancient spalls was over nine inches long. The exterior of the nodule in the gif file is covered with an ancient patina: The entire cortex had been removed through the spalling process.

[redrocks]

Unusual. Is right . Are you able to make large blades?...from the one in gif file?.that's s good example thanks for showing these Ron ....cool

[Ron Kelley]

Thanks Red, In the pictures below you can see how I used that nodule.

[Ron Kelley]

These pictures are from the nodule in the gif file. The ancient knapper had split the nodule in half giving me a good flat platform. I used this flat area (platform) to strike and remove large spall.

[Kentucky point]

Oh, I can't wait for you to use that!

[Ron Kelley]

Hey Ethan, These are old pictures. I used that nodule to make many knives and points.

[redrocks]

Thanks Ron just wondering how you work raw rock. I guess its all about control and precision

[Olden]

Hey Ron, How do you think the spalls were removed from the bar stool example - hammer & chisel? It does seem odd not to work from an edge. Could they have used heat?

[Ron Kelley]

Hey Dan, That's a mystery to me. I have spalled many nodules but never like that. A hardstone chisel and hammer sounds likely.

[OnewiththewilD]

That was my guess too, possibly a chisel and mallet type setup and bopping spalls off of them ridges left by the last spall removale. It looks pretty weather worn so it’s hard to tell from the pic where their points of impact hit. Awesome chunk of material too!

[Ron Kelley]

Hey Jay, It must have been a hundred pounds before they started spalling it. My other large hornstone nodules have been about a third that weight.

[Tam]

Interesting Ron , good example for a cross over what that guy posted the other day and we were saying chopper .

[clovisoid]

Hey Ron, How do you think the spalls were removed from the bar stool example - hammer & chisel? It does seem odd not to work from an edge. Could they have used heat?

Here is a picture of the blocks in the wall near the pool in our apartment building. I think they used a pretty heavy mallet and a chisel to get it started, and then just worked edges popping off the flakes until they got the surface they were looking for. The workmanship reminds me of your big nodule where there are some deep "clam shell" flakes that don't really look to have a percussion point. I think the force goes in, and comes back up popping off a potbellied flake.

[SDhunter]

I sent you a PM

[Tam]

Holly Molly