What is this?

[dunleav1]

My wife found this in a local stream in Bucks County PA.
I think maybe it's jasper and maybe it's a knife blade.
It's just shy of 4" long.

What do you think?
Thanks,
JD

[chase]

Looks like your right on both accounts. The form looks like a knife and here is a link on Pa Jasper on our site for comparison. Nice find! Thanks for sharing!

http://www.arrowheads.com/index.php/kunena/learn-about-material-types/77590-jasper-sources-in-the-northeast-r-i-and-pa

[dunleav1]

Here's the other side:

[dunleav1]

There is a comment on that thread about jasper turning black but doesn't really state why. Could this be a result of polishing in the creek bed over a period of time?
It's kind of neat that one side is almost totally black and the other looks like the jasper color I am more familiar with.

[Hoss]

Looks creek stained on one side in my honest opinion. Creek staining happens  happens from high concentrations of tannin in the water stream. The tannin comes from decaying leaves and vegetation. The portion not stained was probably in mud or clay and protected from the natural tannins in the water stream which may have discolored your artifact.

[rmartin]

Hoss nailed the creek stain. I agree it looks like a knife form and it was probably in that water a long time.

[Chertman]

You guys sure that isn't a drill?

[Bone2stone]

Chertman wrote:

You guys sure that isn't a drill?

My line of thinking as well.
It does have a worked down to a pointy appearance.
What a shame the very tip is missing.....
Jess B.

[waterglass]

My first thought as well. If I had found it my assumption would have been it is a drill, but then Often Drills are rounded to last longer and worn in an obvious way. This shows sign of neither rounding or the typical wear.
Edited:
In the second picture there is some sign of rounding and wear. Could be a drill.

[CoachG]

I thought drill with broken tip myself.  Nice find.

[Jeffery Howle]

Could be Lerma round base....was trying to judge size using the dime....and Hoss did nail the creek stain

[Jeffery Howle]

looks to be about same as this one....maybe re-sharpened a couple more times

[Ron Kelley]

Hey Chase, I have one and I'v been calling it a drill.  :dunno: