Richard dug a narrow "test" trench for digfest, parallel to the creek and just below where fire pits were dug during the previous year.
Just enough room for one row of diggers.
This is Jamie and Jamie working this section of trench
Here are their finds up to the time I was there. note the bone. Identifiable bone was always found around ALL firepits as was many worked pieces of flint.
I went back the following week and was surprised how well the fire pit ( also called hearths & fire rings )
showed up.
Charcoal is still evident.
Just 2 bases, shown to Pat's friends..
Next visit....back in the firepit. I just found a point. note bones on square towel.
Its a nice but small triangle
Points are always found around the fire rocks so plenty of room to explore ..
Always worth a peck at the Gten wall
I was sure a meat cutting blade was going to pop out right where I was digging..
Unfortunatly it seems they just gnawed the meat off with their teeth....all I got was the wreckage
Time for the major fire pit experts to take over.....
Ben & Jessie. Note how much dirt has been excavated
to this point.
This is Ben's firepit reward for today. He got a very light colored Ensor two days before that I didn't get a pic of. Jess got an Ensor and some pieces today..
Before Ben discovered digging,,,,he started life as a professional surfacer. He was very pleased to show these finds from elsewhere on the ranch...
A TRADE POINT and a GUN FLINT
Badger needed more "elbow room" and so went after a washdown section ....with great results..
A BANDY and a foot bone..
As if to confirm the age of the Bandy, next find was an ANGOSTURA with impact fracture. Whats left was
nice quality workmanship and very smooth ground base.
WOW....a very rare piece of POTTERY
It was filled with candies...Must be something the digfest crowd missed..
Great report Hal. I needed a fresh flint fix. I am now in Naples Florida on a three-week assignment. I met Tom on the way and he brought some excellent coral points to show off. Not to mention his G-10 Clovis point as well. Slowly but surely I am working my way back to the flint country. For now I am taking nourishment via your great pictorials. Good to see you got the dirt diva out to dig a bit. Keep em coming. Cheeers !
T, I'm in the market for a trade point too ...my best metal detecting efforts over camps have gotten zip.
I'm thinking areas of TX that had plentiful, good quality raw flint available were slower to accept the white man's metal
Ida, if your in touch with Tom, your in the best of care in Fl. I've seen a few of his best once when he was at a Nach dig.
How are you fixed for shark tooth " points "?? Venice beach is unbelievable for them, from rays to Megladon.
Dont have to put your swimmies on, they have stores along the waterfront with just teeth like some places have souvenir shops
I'm no longer envious of your type of job....if they can shift you around to cover the disaster areas..
you might find yourself in New Jersy one day
Lunk, Yeah, I made a progressive story out of the fire
pit and it's still on going right now. But its slowing down as the overhang gets worse and getting the dug soil out is brutal. ( needs another delicate backhoe manicure )
S, Most diggers set those type of bones aside but dont take them home They are all properly cracked for the marrow. Badger did keep the foot bone as it was complete ( and big ) pic if I can remember.
Hal that metal trade point come from another site not Chrisners but was a surface find. The gun flint did come from Chrisners sure wish Gun was with it.
Ben O. H.
Hal that metal trade point come from another site not Chrisners but was a surface find. The gun flint did come from Chrisners sure wish Gun was with it.
Ben O. H.
hey if you get a chance could you clean the bone pieces up and repost photos of them, thanks
Only kept the toe bone, nothing special.
I was digging about 7 feet away and found the quite large tooth ( would have been more impressive if the
roots were still there.)
Now the white bones are of some interest. They are from the Nacho dig south of Camp Wood. They are
mineralised to near fossil consistancy. Must have been a pretty bony animal....3 other tables found and kept similar bones.
thanks for showing the "tteth" bones...I have been looking at what hubby found and thougth itmight have been from the wing of some sort of bird creature.I will try and post the pictures, hubby's are not joined just a lot of pieces. Also he now wants a book on ancient tools....lol..onward and upward!!
ok these are the pictures ...let me know what you think!
S, well now that we see the whole collection.....No teeth ( and no bird wings )
They all seem to be such a uniform color and lack ( on the pics ) visible strirated structure lines. I'd say its mineral.
Other guesses might be fragments of giant ( but delicate) clams.
Flow stone ( from cave walls )
Brought back to camp by curious indians, no work seems to be done to them...They didn't know what to do with them either