On the last dig at C3 Idahoe & I were digging about 6 feet apart. Moving ahead we both started getting clam shells in quantity at the same level....Unbroken



This came out with the shells. My first guestimate of the unusual piece was " it's a Perforator "...



Then the came on....it's an OYSTER KNIFE



It's as good a deduction as finding knives ( or broken knives ) along with bones

Very well could be Hal. Neat to find the tool and be able to actually identify it's usage.

Make's sense! Got a question, do you think there were fresh water oyster reefs here in central Tx.? I have read articles stating there was some but never could find much info, if a person could find what conditions were suitable for these ancient reefs a excellent campsite might be found!!
I think there are alot of freshwater clams around. Any info appr.

Thats an interesting line of thought. Strictly my own view at this time...the key words are " fresh water ". There is plenty of evidence for Salt water
Oyster beds...about mile marker 26 on Lake travis there are shells about 100 feet thick.
Somewhere I seem to remember some academic stating that there was only ONE natural lake in all of Texas. So that would indicate that there would only be relatively shallow flowing water, not the best conditions for a true "reef"

Clams & true mussels are very evident naturally but not as a concentrated reef.

Even though it's presently salt water....in support of your " find a reef, find a camp " thesis.
The Flowers garden reefs offs**** Tx in the Gulf of Mexico must have been a big hill surrounded by a flat plain back in the earliest Paleo indian days..
There should be Clovis points between the Lobsters

Well I May have beeen mislead on the freah water reefs.


Thanks Hal

Most artifact collectors are men and many work-a-day women's tools have been given macho names. Theres the "Ceremonial Dagger" with serrations on one side that was actually used for scaling fish. There's the big spearhead that was really some nice lady's mussel opening knife. Then theres the drills, that were mostly perforators and part of a woman's sewing kit. And theres the warrior's tomahawk head that was actually used by a woman to cut firewood and so on and so on.

" A woman's work is never done "
Add 'squaw knife' to the above list ( see brought forward old post )