Was that a signal from an enemy of yours? Or a friend, warning you. My mind is already racing to all kinds of scenarios. A nice piece.
It's quite definitely knapped, so yeah, it's a projectile point or some other such tool. How big is it? Did you find it out in New Mexico?
about an inch and a half
I was thinking 4-6. Lol
Since spears could be two to four feet long, we’re both correct. I double checked.
Depending on where in the world, the smaller ones usually had barbed bone points. I got to play with a few at the museum I apprenticed at for three years. I have a very nice spear point, but it’s in storage. I have a picture, but not good quality. It’s about 6 inches. Found in a 8000+ yo site, in central Oregon. It’s obsidian from a formation before the event that made the caldera named Crater Lake.
My mind is grinding. My Lithic Analysis classes deep in there.
Can you imagine the first atlatls? During a time between spears and bows, thick spears and spear points. Wow. @btroje
@Annaleda The few I saw were excavated in the southeastern US. They were tiny! I wondered what in the world they would hunt with them since I originally figured the added force could make them better for taking down mega fauna. Maybe extended range when hunting smaller game?
(This wasn't my original area in anth -and it shows- although I want to return to it. )
As the people got better at making them, and evolving them, they got smaller. Now they are more like darts. The ones you saw were probably for medium game.
There was a culture that specialized in very small points, as they had hardly any rock where they lived in the far north. Arg. I’ll find there name. I’m having a moment. @Fidget
@Annaleda LOL! I studied graphic design for a short time in the mid 80s. Yep! I remember the tall desks and dread of a strong breeze when someone opened the classroom door. FWIW, my 20s and 30s could be compared to giving a bonobo tuition money and a backpack and turning it loose.
My BA is in anth with an emphasis on cultural anthropology. My areas were performance/arts, ritual behavior and sexuality. This dovetailed nicely with my minor in folk studies. (Welcome to Quilts an' Haints U!) We did modules in all areas of the discipline and the digs I worked were mostly salvage sites. We/they were/are still finding smallish late archaic habitation sites. There was some nineteenth century historic work done as well.
The botanical medicine study sounds intriguing.
@Annaleda I love them, too. At the time, I was partial to the really teeny protohominids. Mayb this was because there were a lot of people who were all about Leakey's Ladies.
There was mention of the Venus of Willendorf (and others.) I'm fond of them. Have you seen Nina Paley's animation of them?
Posted by JolantaAlmost good enough to eat.
Posted by metalfactoryMetal Factory - Beautifully Designed, Custom-Made Straight Staircase
Posted by KateOahuSpending August in Big Bay, Michigan, again this year.
Posted by KateOahuSpending August in Big Bay, Michigan, again this year.
Posted by KateOahuSpending August in Big Bay, Michigan, again this year.
Posted by AussieBudgieSome shots from my recent travels.
Posted by AussieBudgieSome shots from my recent travels.
Posted by AussieBudgieSome shots from my recent travels.
Posted by AussieBudgieSome shots from my recent travels.
Posted by AussieBudgieSome shots from my recent travels.
Posted by AussieBudgieSome shots from my recent travels.
Posted by AussieBudgieSome shots from my recent travels.
Posted by AussieBudgieSome shots from my recent travels.
Posted by AussieBudgieSome shots from my recent travels.
Posted by AussieBudgieSome shots from my recent travels.
Posted by KynleiFinished my cartoon character drawing today. Note, this is for personal use only and I will not be selling it. The characters belong to their respective owners and are subject to copyright.