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Here are two links to posts dealing with how to post pictures on Black River Fossils forums.

1. How to Post Pictures on Black River Fossils Forums by ditchweezil

2. How to Post Pictures on Black River Fossils Forums by Daryl

  

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  Artifacts  Native American Artifacts  Maryland Indian...
 Maryland Indian Artifiacts?
 
 4/20/2007 4:47:38 AM
User is offlineDaryl
184 posts
5th


Maryland Indian Artifiacts?

I made my first successful post this evening and it includes a pic of what my coworker found behind his house in a farmer's field.  He thinks they are Indian artifacts like axe heads or something.  I know absolutely nothing abouth this sort of thing.  I can provide better pics if needed.  Each one does have a slight edge to it.

Daryl.

 4/20/2007 12:58:16 PM
User is offlinejp
76 posts


Re: Maryland Indian Artifiacts?
Hey Daryl - Don't think those are axe heads. I can imagine native people being constantly on the lookout for good lithic material for making weapons and tools. Certain parts of the country have really good raw material, others do not. The areas that are now Ohio, Florida, Texas, Washington State were some places where real good raw material could be found. The really good quality raw material must have been an excellent resource to trade. Anyhow, other areas had reasonably good quality material and other areas frankly pretty lousy. The main quality of good raw material is it would fracture consistently, hold an edge and be reasonably durable. Anyhow, it looks to me that the stuff you friend found could be artifacts. The one in the middle looks like a broken point and the one on the left could have been a tool of some sort. The one on the right looks to me like it is not.
 4/20/2007 2:31:29 PM
User is offlineDaryl
184 posts
5th


Re: Maryland Indian Artifiacts?

Thanks JP.  I may be taking my sons out looking this weekend on my friends land and some farmer's land to look for some artifacts - we've never been before.  If we go and find anything I'll post it next week.  My friend says he has hundreds of artifiacts, mostly points, and some axe heads, spears, and knives.  If he can dig them out of storage I'll take some pictures.

Daryl.

 4/20/2007 2:46:37 PM
User is offlineBob S.
103 posts
5th


Re: Maryland Indian Artifiacts?
Good luck Daryl. I hope you and your boys find some nice things. If you are anything like I am, that first find will make an addict out of you. 
 4/20/2007 5:28:21 PM
User is offlinejp
76 posts


Re: Maryland Indian Artifiacts?
Daryl, I hope you have alot of fun with your kids looking for artifacts. Something that took me a long time to figure out is artifacts are not just all over the place but are in very specific areas. And these areas are where the native people camped. We tend to think of Indian villages but for most part, for many thousands of years, the native people were hunter gatherers. They moved around alot within their specific territory, following food resources. They would return to the same areas on a yearly basis .And this process could have been repeated for literally thousands of years. So, finding the areas where tools were made and where people camped is the trick. It must be said, a stray arrowhead could be found almost anywhere. But, to find large amounts of artifacts, these campsites need to located. Village sites certainly did exist also, but again these were much later. Finding a field where a Woodland Period village was once located would be a bonanza indeed. Wanted to mention that, when one first starts collecting fossils, there are alot of things that look "sort of" like a fossil and sort of like something else. When you collect for awhile, it becomes pretty easy and sort of second nature to recognize fossils from non fossils. It's the same process that takes place with artifacts.
 4/29/2007 1:50:09 AM
User is offlineBob S.
103 posts
5th


Re: Maryland Indian Artifiacts?
How are you and the boys making out with the artifacts Daryl? Any new news?
 5/3/2007 2:47:33 PM
User is offlineDaryl
184 posts
5th


Re: Maryland Indian Artifiacts?

Well, we went after it rained cats and dogs, and it turns out it was a bit too muddy in the farmer's field.  The mud stuck to the bottoms of our boots and made them feel like they each weighed about 10 lbs.  We did find one interesting black triangular shaped object, but I'm not sure if it's an artifact or not.  I'll take a pic and post it when I get a chance.  We plan on going back when the field is a little dryer.

Daryl.

 5/3/2007 3:59:41 PM
User is offlinejp
76 posts


Re: Maryland Indian Artifiacts?
Daryl - Your experience reminds me of an experience I once had. I read somewhere that native people liked sandy soil for their campsites. A good while ago, I had access to a large field that that had an elevated sandy area and a lower clayey area. Went there a few times when it was dry, found alot of stuff in the sandy areas and only a few things in the clayey areas but didn't think that much of it. Then one time it rained like crazy and I went out following the rain. To access the sandy area you had to cross the clayey area. Well, I had the exact same experience you and your sons did. My boots were caked with what seemed like 10 lbs of mud. I got through the clay and managed to scrape the muck off my boots and started walking around in the sandy area. No muck, nothing sticking to my boots at all. After being bogged down with the heavy clay, I felt light as a feather. I think the main criteria for native people choosing campsites was access to a stream or other water source. I think they also liked elevated or at least a little elevated areas. And if they could, I do believe they did chose sandy areas for drainage purposes, ease of digging storage pits etc. Of course, not all areas of the country have sandy areas, and today, access to fields is so limited it's worth checking any place you can. Good luck to you and your sons Daryl.
 5/3/2007 4:30:59 PM
User is offlineBob S.
103 posts
5th


Re: Maryland Indian Artifiacts?
 Daryl wrote

Well, we went after it rained cats and dogs, and it turns out it was a bit too muddy in the farmer's field.  The mud stuck to the bottoms of our boots and made them feel like they each weighed about 10 lbs.  We did find one interesting black triangular shaped object, but I'm not sure if it's an artifact or not.  I'll take a pic and post it when I get a chance.  We plan on going back when the field is a little dryer.

Daryl.

 

Some days are better than others, but It's always good to get out. I always tell people that the hunting is always good, even if  the "finding" is sometimes poor. I have a pair of boots that seem to weigh ten pounds most of the time myself. I'm looking forward to seeing your pic Daryl and good luck when things dry up.

 5/18/2007 3:19:57 AM
User is offlineDaryl
184 posts
5th


Re: Maryland Indian Artifiacts?

I went collecting along the Potomac River recently and saw a few other folks from the MGS club, and folks from the DVPS club.  One of the guys from the mGS found a shard of pottery that they said looked like it was American Indian pottery.  It was about 3" and it had a band of dots or impressions along the top edge of the piece.  One of the guys said that was from a rope or something.  It was a dark brown colored piece.  I would never had picked it up - now I'll be on the lookout.  We have a club meeting this weekend, if I see the piece there I'll take some pics and post them.

Daryl.

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