I was exploring new stretches of shoreline looking for new sites this weekend and came across this boulder (small enough to lift but bigger than i could carry) that appeared to have eroded out of the bank. Unlike the glacial and surf rounded rocks that dominate the area, this one rock had angular faces that clearly looked like pieces has been driven off. So on a hunch I picked up another rock and took a crack at it. The piece broke off very predictably with the “glassy” sound that good rhyolites have. I am by no means a knapper, but in just a minute or two i was able to easily work out a quick biface. I am 100% convinced that the boulder i found was utilized for stone tools. That being said, I am not sure i have ever seen this particular material before and i have been collecting locally for 20 years. The glaciers carried material here from all over the northeast so pretty much anything in in play. It is less grainy then the pictures suggest with a glassy shimmer and tone..... any ideas?
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
Northeast lithic experts?
Collapse
X
-
That looks really high quality to be rhyolite to me, but I'm certainly not a Northeast expert. Almost looks like good quartzite.
And that's pretty decent work for not being a knapper, you've got a decent biface there that's already pretty thin with a decent edge.Hong Kong, but from Indiana/Florida
- Likes 1
-
Looks more like basalt to me.TN formerly CT Visit our store http://stores.arrowheads.com/store.p...m-Trading-Post
- Likes 4
Comment
-
Basalt patinates to brown it will form a weather rind over time.TN formerly CT Visit our store http://stores.arrowheads.com/store.p...m-Trading-Post
Comment
-
I did some google-ing on my lunch break today, I am pretty sure Lindenmeier and Hoss nailed it. I found photos of freshly knapped basalt and other photos with weathered rind..... both matched my material exactly.
I also remembered a broken point I found one inlet over from the boulder in question. I originally thought the material was a dark quartzite, but now Im left wondering if they arent related.
- Likes 1
Comment
Comment