Paleo knife?

Rust Collector · 4th July 2011, 02:07 AM

Sorry it took so long to get back with better pictures... I've been having trouble getting as close up as I wanted but I think I've go some that illustrate my points. If nothing else this thread has given me an appreciation for the great photography that I see all the time on this forum and the idea that I need a better camera.
I am more convinced the material is chert, it is riddled with crystal occlusions, fractures concoidally and seems to meet the rest of the charataristic associated with it.

fearn · 5th July 2011, 05:01 PM

I'm having trouble seeing the conchoidal fractures. Atlantia's post in #7 shows them quite clearly. Conchoidal fractures are what one sees when glass breaks. Is there a way you can indicate where you are seeing conchoidal fractures?

As for cryptocrystalline (crystal structure too small to see), I see crystals, and I see lots of evidence (the holes along the edge, for one) where there are fairly large crystals.

F

Tim Simmons · 5th July 2011, 05:29 PM

I am having difficulty seeing anything on this stone that has been cause by humans. Even some of the Australian Aboriginal basic stone tools, noted for there lack of sophisticated napping and grinding show clear signs of the human hand. I do realise that this sort of thing is so difficult to present through a PC.

Atlantia · 5th July 2011, 09:16 PM

Sorry Rust, I've got to say that I'm still of the opinion that this is a natural shape.
I also don't think it is the kind of chert that is used for tools.

aiontay · 6th July 2011, 03:58 AM

In my completely unexpert opinion, it is a natural, not man made stone artifact.

However, I have on one occasion made a discodial knife (breaking a flake of a rounded rock which makes a disc shaped flake) from a piece of sandstone, and it did result in a very sharp edge that would cut. The edge quickly broke up and you couldn't really re-flake it to sharpen it. Pretty lousy material for a blade, but if you had nothing else you could skin a rabbit or cut down a small sapling in a pinch, but it would be useless after that one task.

Henk · 6th July 2011, 08:57 AM

Sorry Rust, it is just a stone. Nothing more nothing less, If you like it you can keep it, but i would throw it back in the garden.

It will become a weapon when you're going to beat your neighbour with it. It still will be a recent weapon then, not paleo.

4th July 2011, 02:07 AM	#1
Rust Collector Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 11	Sorry it took so long to get back with better pictures... I've been having trouble getting as close up as I wanted but I think I've go some that illustrate my points. If nothing else this thread has given me an appreciation for the great photography that I see all the time on this forum and the idea that I need a better camera. I am more convinced the material is chert, it is riddled with crystal occlusions, fractures concoidally and seems to meet the rest of the charataristic associated with it. Attached Images

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5th July 2011, 05:01 PM	#2
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	I'm having trouble seeing the conchoidal fractures. Atlantia's post in #7 shows them quite clearly. Conchoidal fractures are what one sees when glass breaks. Is there a way you can indicate where you are seeing conchoidal fractures? As for cryptocrystalline (crystal structure too small to see), I see crystals, and I see lots of evidence (the holes along the edge, for one) where there are fairly large crystals. F

5th July 2011, 05:29 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	I am having difficulty seeing anything on this stone that has been cause by humans. Even some of the Australian Aboriginal basic stone tools, noted for there lack of sophisticated napping and grinding show clear signs of the human hand. I do realise that this sort of thing is so difficult to present through a PC.

5th July 2011, 09:16 PM	#4
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Sorry Rust, I've got to say that I'm still of the opinion that this is a natural shape. I also don't think it is the kind of chert that is used for tools.

6th July 2011, 03:58 AM	#5
aiontay Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 88	In my completely unexpert opinion, it is a natural, not man made stone artifact. However, I have on one occasion made a discodial knife (breaking a flake of a rounded rock which makes a disc shaped flake) from a piece of sandstone, and it did result in a very sharp edge that would cut. The edge quickly broke up and you couldn't really re-flake it to sharpen it. Pretty lousy material for a blade, but if you had nothing else you could skin a rabbit or cut down a small sapling in a pinch, but it would be useless after that one task.

6th July 2011, 08:57 AM	#6
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Sorry Rust, it is just a stone. Nothing more nothing less, If you like it you can keep it, but i would throw it back in the garden. It will become a weapon when you're going to beat your neighbour with it. It still will be a recent weapon then, not paleo.