You're welcome.

Keith

In areas like North America, South America, Australia and Africa population densities were mostly low and living was relatively easy, so people didn't have to become as creative. Europe and parts of Asia were crowded and cold, with fewer natural resources. Surviving in Europe and parts of Asia took more innovation. The environment strongly shapes human behavior and phenotype.

The Scythians, Greeks, Romans, Celts and Vikings spread ideas and technology throughout Europe and Asia mostly.

Keith

I knew several of the Mesoamerican cultures, notably the Aztecs, were accomplished gold and silver workers. But I did not know they also had bronze... Kind of a kick in the head.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tlaximaltepoztli

Mike

Thanks for all the pics and info. It is truly amazing how our ancestors lived. Hard live's for sure. I'm watching a program now on the clovis people. Hence the clovis points that I see in some of your guy's pics. The relics in your all pics were not made for target practice, but pure survival! I used to walk plowed fields looking for arrow heads and found a lot. Probably picked up and discarded some valuable ones as well not knowing what they were.

Another advantage in having a higher population density is that people can specialize more. I think if they would have lasted, the Aztecs and Mayans would eventually have become technologically advanced enough to work steel and iron.

Keith

I don't believe they had smelting technology, the same with gold and silver, it was utilized as it was found in its native state. Very similar to native Americans in southeast Alaska who used native copper to fashion various things. They simply hammered out nuggets of copper. Some of the nuggets were huge.

Here's a few-

Very interesting and informative post!

I know they don’t meet the post description of “stone” but I found these copper tools this past summer near a traditional spring sturgeon and walleye fishing camp on the Mn/Canadian border. Presumably Eastern Archaic dating as far back as 6000 BC. The copper likely came from Isle Royal or somewhere near the shores of Lake Superior and made it to this camp hundreds of miles away. Some interesting stuff to say the least!

Fish hook and spear point:

really enjoy seeing posts like this.....some of you guys have some really nice pieces.........ive been at it awhile...so I honestly couldn't say how many artifacts ive found over the years............its still a thrill finding something that was last seen and held a minimum of a thousand years ago.............most have no idea how old some points actually are.......my clovis and daltons are my favorites.....

I see some VERY nice stuff in your collection FoxKidd44!

Here is a different angle of the doughnut cut into the rock. Both are close the same size and shape. Any ideas?

Wow, you guys have found some amazing artifacts. I don't have any tools or points but I did find this stone effigy pipe 68 years ago when I was playing by a creek as a kid.



I put the stem in it from a piece of hollowed out sumac.

Very nice artifacts!

I am planning to use a few of my arrow points or hunt deer this fall. That is what they were made for, right?

Considering how the values have skyrocketed, consider that homeowners insurance does not cover antiquities. Min will not, even with an appraisal and a rider.

Mjm, this subject usually gets some folks riled up because they are hardcore convinced they have an artifact,, been in a gazillion heated discussions… what you have unfortunately is an Omar https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omarolluk

Cool thread, may have shown these on here before, but here's some NC stuff I have picked up over the years

I could really care less what it is, I would just like to know for sure. I am not sure you would think that it was a Omar if you had it in your hand. I have hauled rocks home that were well over 100 lbs that I knew had nothing to do with Indians, other than one may have seen it. The doughnut was made at a different time than the rock and it is much rougher than the stone. Being rough leads me to belied it was chipped out not rubbed. Thanks for the input.

Here is a handful of better rocks I picked up. I gave them to my wife, and she had the one put on a pin so she can ware it on a chain. The mono fish line was a add to keep them together. That way we can loose them all at once.

I like your grooved axes. Grooved axes are probably my favorite Native American tool.

Keith

Those are neat. Copper was widely traded. Flint was traded very far distances too. I don't have any copper Native American artifacts.

Keith

You have a very nice collection. Illinois is an artifact hunters Mecca.

Keith