Cumberland River finds

[mark1j]

Found these about 30 years ago on the Cumberland River in KY. Thought I had lost them but came across them in a box in the attic. My grandparents had a place on the river. Brought back some good memories.

 

[mark1j]

Here are some more pieces from same place.

 

[Nicodemus]

I recognize some of the material, Dover Chert out of western Tennessee. Looks like the base of an Adena point too.

 

[bluemarlin]

Too cool. I've been reading Empire of the Summer Moon. Awesome book that relates to those..

 

[mark1j]

The top one in the second post I’m not sure about. It looks like edges have been worked, but it might be natural chipping. I don’t know enough about it to be able to tell.

 

[Nicodemus]

The top one in the second post I’m not sure about. It looks like edges have been worked, but it might be natural chipping. I don’t know enough about it to be able to tell.

I don`t know either, but I`s say it was a flake knife. Where a hammerstone or antler billet knocked a flake off a core stone or nodule, and was used as a knife. Reason I say that s because I have done that, used the flake to skin, dress, and break down a deer, and the wear use on the tool I used looks exactly like the edge on that particular flake you mention. The "chipping" along the edge is where the user hit bone as he was cutting the meat.

But, I might be wrong too.

 

[Sixes]

I'm sure you have tried it over the years, but do those two halves of the drill fit together?

They look really close to one piece

 

[mark1j]

I'm sure you have tried it over the years, but do those two halves of the drill fit together?

They look really close to one piece

I’ll have to look closer but I don’t think so

 

[antharper]

Nice finds

 

[Thunder Head]

Cool points

 

[NCHillbilly]

The top one in the second post I’m not sure about. It looks like edges have been worked, but it might be natural chipping. I don’t know enough about it to be able to tell.

It definitely has a worked edge. It's a spall that has either been worked down to use as a scraper or knife, or is in the first stages of being worked into a preform. Or both. Several unfinished preforms in that collection in various stages of work. I find that stuff fascinating, as it tells you the processes they were using. Nice finds!