Pro tip: Stop using metal tools on flint artifacts in the field

I was out near the Gila River last month with a local survey group and watched a guy chip a nice Clovis point by scraping dirt off it with a steel trowel. He literally said 'oops' and tossed it back in the bag. Problem is once you scratch the surface with metal it leaves tiny marks that can mess up use-wear analysis forever. I got scolded by a retired BLM archaeologist after doing the same thing two years ago and he showed me how even a single scratch can look like a cut mark under a microscope. Now I only use bamboo skewers or soft brushes for cleaning. Anyone else run into people causing damage without realizing it?

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2 Comments

grayw323mo ago

My buddy did that exact thing last year and ruined a nice scraper.

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betty1442mo ago

Tbh @grayw32, when you say "ruined a nice scraper," was it like the finish got all messed up or did it actually chip or bend out of shape? Ngl, I've seen guys treat scrapers like they're indestructible and then hit a hidden staple or something and it's game over. Was your buddy using it on a surface that was too hard or was it just bad luck with the angle he was working at? Just trying to figure out if it's user error or the tool itself giving out.

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