Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Indian Artifacts - Volume II

I don’t doubt that shells were used in times past. I know of some that have been found in an area I hunt in, but they have all been ground into useful shapes. I don’t think the shell material would flake very well.

I have broken a shark tooth trying to work it a little. I know that it doesn’t flake like flint. They were probably used as they were found. Most in this area are found in areas that have been excavated so I’m not really sure what kind of access a Native American would have had to prehistoric shark teeth.

This is a shell, probably from some type of whelk, that was found in an area that we have been finding a good many points and tools over the last few years. The area is more than 60 miles in from the coast. I don't know what this was used for, but the end appears to have been ground into a point. (Not my feet, hand or dog. I would take the dog though. He is a good one.)

Oh, and at one time I had a single projectile point that was fashioned from a pretty good size gar scale. I think it came outta the Nueces river area watershed. Down in Stxhunters AO. I need to look and see if I still have it somewhere. I think dad had several too!

Appreciate the responses.

I am aware shells were used ornamentally and widely traded, so would expect them to show up in unusual places. They are a little more degradable, however, than stoneware.

I remember breaking up some heavy clam shells on east coast vacations as a kid, but can't recall the fracture patterns. None of my breakage was in any way constructive though. Got in a bit of trouble when I left some live ones in my sand bucket that went into the trunk. The rig was quite aromatic for several days.

OK. Most know I'm more of a lazy cheater than a pot hunter, and my collection is pretty much self fabricated

Had considerable time available in the last couple weeks, so I sat in front of the garage and hammered out about 50 points mostly from obsidian. On our most recent fishing trip though, Cookie and I were walking an abandoned railway and found a couple shards of old glass about 1/4 inch thick. Dug out the smaller of the two this morning and set to work trying to bang out a point. Biggest chore was hammering off the square edges. Took about 2 1/2 hours to work it down, as I wanted to minimize breakage risk. OK work, but I could not get pressure flakes to travel as far as desired.

Just suspended it by our back door with monofilament and snapped a couple pics. I wanted it backed by nothing but the sky, but was too lazy to dig out a step ladder for the needed height. That being, not quite the artistic composition I envisioned.



Right at 4 1/4 inches tip to base.

We picked up some rocks last weekend north of town, and some of my obsidian points exhibit almost that same degree of transparency. Will try to get a similar pic of some of those in a day or two. A relaxing and cheap hobby, as the rocks are free and one can think of nothing else while working one up.

Have good one,

Nice Point!

I don't have the talent or the patience. I appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into a well made point though.

Broke (literally) out my second and larger shard of glass this morning with intentions of attempting another longish point. Five minutes into it with very little effort, I suddenly had three pieces in my hand. The trick is to chip off about a thousand pieces without really breaking anything. Given my luck, things got scaled back a bit.

Lower left is 2 3/4" long. Out of glass now, so back to dipping into the obsidian bucket. For the firewood aholics, that's a chunk of seasoned lodge pole pine.

Rockingbbar:



Not really a talent. More of a developed skill that comes from making a lot of small rocks out of larger ones. Patience, however, does come into play.

Have a good one,

kinda pretty, itty-bitty...

Sweet!!!

Love those little ones!

Very nice work! and thats a Dandy little bird point!

Wow! Tiny. I was just outside trying my hand at some small ones. Sure come together a lot quicker than the big guys.

With a ton of folks out hunting whatever, one would think there would be some finds coming in.

You are quite talented 1minute between you and your wife you are a talented duo. 👍

Cool thread and thanks for all the contributions, they’re all great.

Thanks. But not on my end. I just refuse to give up.

Have a good one,