Successful New Years artifact dig with Dad!

[Johnny]

Awesome find, congrats!

Just guessing here, the hard limestone rock at 10" keeps the artifacts from being 4'-5' deep?

GarGuy already answered the question...them artifacts will keep sinking until they hit a hard layer which in this case is limestone. I have a place I dig in Grimes County and the hard layer that I dig down to is a hard red clay. I'm digging in mounds that are darn near 4 foot deep to the clay. You talk about a workout!

[Tony Pic]

Incredible finds! Wow! Good Luck. Keep digging!

[flywise]

My whole lease is covered with flint, 3 year round creeks with bluffs.
I find at least one point on most trips that I actually try to focus on the ground.
Are there any basics to locate a spot to dig a little? I did read what you wrote up top about how y'all decided on this spot so is a mound a necessessity?

[Killer Miller]

very nice

[Roy D Mercer]

Heck yea awesome blade whatever you want to call it!!

[Mac...]

"Awesome Sauce!"

[Chad]

Successful New Years artifact dig with Dad!

My whole lease is covered with flint, 3 year round creeks with bluffs.
I find at least one point on most trips that I actually try to focus on the ground.
Are there any basics to locate a spot to dig a little? I did read what you wrote up top about how y'all decided on this spot so is a mound a necessessity?

Sounds like a great place for a camp, somewhere! Every hole that I've dug in has been on a mound, of sound kind. I have found points in flat areas too, but surface finds. And nothing like what's pictured. What I look for in a mound is some kind of high ground and it's not always a lot. You'd be surprised how small some of these mounds can be. For instance, our bird point camp is a raised area no more than 10' higher than ground level that runs parallel to a branch of the creek. We didn't dig there to find it, we discovered it plowing for an oat patch! Perdiz points and bone starting turning up in the dirt Where I found these on the other hand is on a larger mound and about 50' above "ground level", overlooking an ancient spring. Every real productive camp that I've had any luck digging in had one thing in common, elevation. There are endless reasons to be on higher ground and if you dig where their time was spent, you're sure to fine stuff. Tools, bone, points, pottery (in a very young camp like bird points). Just think like they would. I'll add that I've had probably MOST of my luck digging on the sides of the mounds.

As far as finding the rock middens, I just look for burned rock. And burned flint is a good clue that you're in it also. Fire "pops" little craters out of the flint. I guess chunking them in the fire after a misplaced knapping strike? Who knows.

The best part of my collection isn't kept at home, I'll get a pic when I can! Perdanales, Nolan, Bulverde, Castroville, Travis seems to be our "norm" of what's found.

Thanks for the compliments everyone!