Global Warming Update In Oklahoma

We've got blizzard conditions for only the second time in recorded history.

Here's a few pics.



February 1, 2011

What Kind of Caterpillar is This?

This little critter was seen crawling across the deck today. I've never seen one like it.

Hammerstone?

The next set of pics are of a rock that I think is a hammerstone. What do you think? There are obvious marks on the various points of the rock that show some kind of pecking, or hammering action.

What's this?

This set of pics are of a rock that seems to show some sort of scratches. I don't know if they were put there by a person or not. The other side of the rock just shows normal natural features. Here, take a look.

Here's the back.

Here's the scratches, again.

Mano ?

I've been wondering if the object in this next set of pics is a mano. For those of you that don't know what a mano is...

"Manos refer to the handstones used in conjunction with milling basins and metates for grinding seeds or grains into flour. They are common artifacts on many archaeological sites throughout Oklahoma. They were utilized over several thousand years, earlier for grinding wild plant products and later for grinding maize (corn)."

In other words you take a big stone, throw down something that needs grinding, take a smaller stone in your hand and start grinding.

The only reason I think the stone in the pics below might(?) be a mano is that the edges look ground down to me. They've been smoothed.

Anybody out there with knowledge of this stuff agree with me? Let me know.

This first pic is the end that is obviously broken.

Here are two pics that show the wear and tear of grinding.

I'll keep searching for the larger grinding stone called a metate. It's gotta be around there somewhere.

Oklahoma Cup Stone Artifact pic #1

This might be my favorite artifact that I've found at my favorite hunting spot. I believe that it is what's called a "Cup Stone." You can learn about various artifacts online by reading the online version of the book titled Oklahoma Indian Artifacts by Dr. Robert E. Bell.



The book contains illustrations of the artifacts, and one in particular actually looks like the piece I found in the pic below. Click here to see the illustration Dr. Bell's book.



This is the one I found.

Oklahoma Pottery Sherds pics # 1-9

Here are some pics of Native American Pottery sherds that I found at the same spot near a river where I found the arrowheads and beads. It's been really interesting to find out about how the pottery was made back then. They used clay (the kind you can still find at this same spot near the river) and mixed it with various items including ground up mussel shells (the kind you can still find at this same spot near the river).

Compare my finds with those found at the Harrel Archaelogical Dig in Texas.

Here is a view of one of the pieces.

This next pic is the same piece as the one above, but it's the other side of the piece.

Here's another piece. Notice the bits of ground-up shell.

This is the same piece as above, but it's the other side.

Same piece, different view.

Again, it's the same piece, different view.

Here is another piece. Notice the markings. (They look like scratches)

Here is the same piece as above, but it's the other side.

(These are all legal surface finds.)

Oklahoma Freshwater Pearls pics # 1,2, and 3

These are Freshwater Pearl beads that Native Americans made centuries ago right alongside arrowheads and other known artifacts. The mussel shell is there to show what they are made from and to show that the same type of mussels are still found at this same spot near a river. They would have been used to make necklaces, anklets, and even used as trade items (money). The shells were broken and the best parts would have been ground down to the desired shape of the pearl bead. Pretty cool huh?

Compare my finds with those found at the Harrell Archaelogical Dig in Texas.

Also, if you're interested read about shell beads found at the Spiro Mounds Complex about an hour's drive from where I found mine.

(These were all surface finds so don't try to start something with me buddy.)


The pics below are just different views of the same pearls in the pic above.

Oklahoma Heads pic #13

It's hard to tell from this pic but these are various pieces of arrowheads and what not that have been broken in some way or other.

Oklahoma Heads pic #12

This pic shows several tips that have the bottom missing. The one in the center though is a complete "bird point." Doggonit! Where's that penny.