Possible flint arrowhead

pueblo

I found what I believe is a possible flint arrowhead, again this was found in the same stretch of river as the flint blade (see separate thread).

It has very similar patination/colour to the blade.

The object is 4cm long and has 6 faces or planes.

Any input appreciated!

Photos here http://flic.kr/s/aHsjCEExcg

dr gonzo

Youre on a roll Pueblo!

Flint alright by the looks of it but morphologically unlike any arrowheads I've seen. Looks more like simple debitage then a finished artefact. Great find all the same! Keep it up

jimmyarch

Another nice find there Pueblo!

I think it is indeed flint and it is possible that it may be retouched (two notches on left in IMG_2995).

Hugely patinated and very heavily water rolled make figuring it out a little tricky. I think there is quite a degree of original cortex remaining.

However, definitely not an arrowhead. The overall morphology and chain of actions in its manufacture do not relate to Irish prehistoric arrowheads. I think, although its a tricky piece, that this is a fragment from a lithic core and not a formal tool type in its own right.

Keep poking along that piece of river, obviously a buried/eroding lithic scatter along there!

pueblo

Thanks for replies.

I agree with the 'buried/eroding lithic scatter' idea, I will certainly keep looking, though with the river in flood so much I will need to exchange my waders for diving gear!

slowburner

I'm sure you do this already, but it might be worthwhile to keep an eye out for material in the river banks, as well as the river bed.
Perhaps places where the soil is exposed now, or was in the past..

Wibbs

+1 outside bend of a river where the current slows and drops material might be a good place to start. Mind you be careful. A lifetime of fishing and wading rivers has taught me that, plus banks can collapse without warning, especially after heavy rain. Like SB said though I'm probably preaching to the choir here

Funny enough after all those years fishing I never found anything like what you have and I'd be keeping my eyes out. Fair play. Though I did find a rusted lump of civil war era revolver once.

pueblo

Thanks for the advice. I generally survey a stretch of river on a sat map before heading out.

Slowburner, I do try to keep an eye on the banks too, but I love a couple of quiet hours wading up and down a stretch of river!

I am always looking for natural gravel banks/beaches. The place where I found the last two pieces is an area where the river level falls away, the bed is pebble/gravel and after a flood a lot of material (pottery sherds etc) seems to catch on this bed as the water level drops.

Wibbs I have boxes and boxes at home of pottery sherds, stones, bones, fossils etc most of it is rubbish, but as I learnt more about lithics/morphology etc I always felt that there had to be a lot of lithic material in and along rivers. Luck however was the decisive factor in my finds.

Last night I was going through some old boxes of stones and found what I think may actually be a tanged arrowhead! I will take some pics and post later. I also have what could be a flint core.

pueblo

Link to pics of another possible arrowhead here http://flic.kr/s/aHsjCHgEVm This could be flint, could have been barbed and tanged but now showing some damage (see sketch). There appears to be very distinctive nibbling to both sides forming a serrated edge.

This was found not in the river Nore as per previous 2 finds but in the river Dinin, again Co. Kilkenny maybe a year ago.

Link to pics of possible flint core http://flic.kr/s/aHsjCHgNhS ....not sure about this at all, it is very heavily rolled. This piece is from the Nore.

dr gonzo

pueblo wrote: »

Link to pics of another possible arrowhead here http://flic.kr/s/aHsjCHgEVm This could be flint, could have been barbed and tanged but now showing some damage (see sketch). There appears to be very distinctive nibbling to both sides forming a serrated edge.

This was found not in the river Nore as per previous 2 finds but in the river Dinin, again Co. Kilkenny maybe a year ago.

Link to pics of possible flint core http://flic.kr/s/aHsjCHgNhS ....not sure about this at all, it is very heavily rolled. This piece is from the Nore.

Two more great finds! I'm starting to really look forward to your posts Pueblo!

Well spotted, flint again on both accounts. JimmyArch will have to confirm this, but the first, rather then an arrowhead, actually looks like a thumbnail scraper to me. Definitely worked anyway from what I can see. The second, as you said yourself, is a lovely little core, started from a small cobble by the looks of it. Again, as you say, heavily rolled etc. Actually looks remarkably like the material we would have used ourselves that we gathered on Antrim beaches; by which I mean it looks like rolled beach material, rather then implying its from Antrim!

Again JimmyArch will confirm or correct me on those but youre getting a fantastic collection going!

pueblo

Thanks for the reply dr gonzo. Again the NMI want to have a look at these pieces...so no real collection! :-)