Lithic tools, at low water

Hello-

I hope this Sunday morning finds you all well.

This week it’s been snowing like crazy, here in the Northeast, yet somehow Boston has managed to avoid it all. There seriously isn’t even a dusting on the ground right now. I think they got about 3 feet out in the Berkshires, and 2 feet only 40 mins away in Worcester, but we’ve had mostly rain, and a few flurries here and there.

The warmer weather last week, and the recent rain has melted a lot of the snow, so I’ve been taking the opportunity to get out and hunt thru the mud. There was a day when the level of the lake was the lowest I’ve seen it- I found some decent peices that day. All the recent rain has filled the lake almost back to its high water mark again, tho. I’m waiting for a few dry days to drain it off so I can get out in the deeper mud:)

Most of the finds I had were in the places where the expanding/contracting ice has scraped the mud/stones/debris into mini-eskers at the lake shore. Kinda like Mother nature’s backhoe, I guess.

It was in these mounds that I found a group of utilized flakes, and other assorted tools with varying amounts of knapping. These tools appear similar to ones found in the same area, which were dated to the paleo and early archaic times, yet these were what I would describe as close to the surface. I’m not sure how freezing and thawing of a soft muddy lake shore can effect the surfacing of deeper, older materials. They sure seem old. Some are very delicate, and some are almost like hand shovels- thick and sturdy.

Most of the tools are made of a tan/brownish/blueish felsite, or rhyolite. I believe this to be from a quarry in the nearby Blue Hills that was popular from 7,000 years ago, until almost the modern day.

I am interested in one of these finds, particularly. It is a scraper/knife and it’s in fine condition. The reason I’m interested in this one is because it is very similar to one that I found, at the same lake, only a couple of months ago. This is the same felsite tool that I discussed in my previous post titled Quandry #1. If you look at the pictures, the more recent find is the tan colored tool, underneath the black one previously discussed. They are the same size, and have the same flaking. The edges of both tools follow the same curvatures. They are basically the same in every way except for the source of lithic material. Hopefully the pictures allow you to see the similarities that I noticed. The most noticable difference between the two tools, is that the black one appears to have been heavily used, and resharpened. The tan one shows how the black one would’ve looked prior to being reflaked. I really like being able to see an almost before/after look at the two tools.

The picture of the assemblage of tools shows some of the other finds I have had. The largest tool appears to be a scraper. There is a semi lunar blade, steep edged scrapers and other tools that must have been used for aspects of everyday life I can only speculate about. Cooking, crafts, hide preparation, hobbies, war? They are all knapped from the same material as the knife mentioned above, and were found spread out along the surface of the muddy lake shore.

The final picture is of a small quartz arrowhead, found in the Neponset River, in an area that was one of the last hunting grounds held (in deed) by the local Massachuset Tribe, in the late 1600’s, and was a favorite hunting spot of Chickataubut. The sachem himself could have made this little point, in theory, I suppose…The base of the point is broken, but you get the idea of the shape… I almost want to say it’s an Oriental Fishtail, which would make it an archaic point, but for some reason I just don’t think it’s that old.

I was reading blogs the other day, and came across a video on youtube for BushCraft International. Check it out, it’s great- they show simple outdoor living techniques like cooking breakfast that you foraged for, and making cooking tools from the natural materials around us (and a knife haha). I will try to post a link.

My heart goes out to those affected by the great earthquake in Chile, and for all those who are suffering, more than usual, around the world. This is a tough time globally, and I thank the powers for the health of my loved ones, and for giving me the chance to commune with those past in the mud of the lake, and the muddy water of the river. Live each day and love our earth and everyone, as you wish to be loved.

Thanks for reading and for being a respectful citizen of this planet.

andy