One of the most intriguing finds is pictured below. Just days ago a neighbor walking along the beach reached down and picked up this beautiful 3 1/2" pre-Columbian spear point. He thinks it is a Clovis Point, maybe 10,000 to 12,000 years old, and made of jasper. But we're open to input from readers who may be more familiar with native American artifacts.
Please add a comment if you think you may know what sort of stone this point is made from, or if you have other information to share.
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Very intriguing indeed!. From your photo, there appears to be little surf weathering/rounding of the point. The closest find of these points in NC is around Ft. Bragg. The Ft. Bragg point is dated to 8500-7500 B.C. By 10,000 years ago the glaciers started to retreat & sea level was on the rise. The island region of Ocracoke was connected to the main land, and this artifact may be the remains of a hunting expedition or early explorers.
ReplyDeleteBest regards,
Jim Goodwin
In answer to your question of what type of rock the point is made from...the finder is correct...jasper..also known as flint or chert. Jasper is composed of silica / quartz and is typically assoicated with deep ocean sediments. Jasper is typically blood red, but can range from brown to black. The rock is not found in abundance in NC, & I suspect that it came from West of the Appalachians.
ReplyDeleteJim