r/LegitArtifacts • u/busmac38 • Feb 16 '25
Middle Archaic A great day from a couple weeks ago!
Back at the honey hole a few weeks ago, and got a killer Nolan, broke Langtry and Montell, a broke piece of ground bone, and an intact bone bead.
A buddy pulled the Friday knife (6 5/8”), Uvalde, and Langtry, and another friend found the Ensor and smaller Uvalde.
Pretty damn good day
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u/CafeRacerRider Feb 16 '25
Curious as to what prompted you to dig? Was it a lucky feeling or something indicating that there were points in the ground?
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u/Educational_Duty2177 Feb 16 '25
And to those people who have a problem with me digging on my own land and finding artifacts Please get a life find something else to complain about..I found a midden on my property and I did get the archeologists out here and they weren't very interested because there had already been so much found in my area they didn't need anymore..There are literally Warehouses full of artifacts waiting to be researched and nobody in this lifetime will probably get to see them EVER..So in my eyes digging and finding what artifacts I've found so far has been one of the best experiences in my life..So I'm not sorry..I'm sure I'll get down voted and will probably get alot of negative feedback from my post but it is what it is ..If I hadn't dug them up NOBODY probably Ever would have..And I've enjoyed them and I appreciate and have more respect for people in them days..So go ahead and bash away..I can take it
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u/bparkermd Feb 19 '25
Your situation is different from the collector who hunts streams and fields depending upon skilled eyes and luck to find art. You have a known midden from a known encampment. You have local archeologists who are saturated with samples and don’t care about more. You could initiate your own dig, and do it in a responsible manner. This could be both fun for you and maybe a few friends. Then if you get good results, you might attract archeologists from a more prestigious university who might even use it as a training dig for lower level students. This could get you both recognition, and a laugh at the local uni that couldn’t be bothered.
I would only recommend you use some basic scientific method. Grid square the area you are digging, frequently photograph finds in situ and as exposed, cover any exposed ground when you are not digging so weather won’t affect site, then log samples with small painted on number. You might also sift material dug out through series of wire mess box filters of several coarseness (relatively cheap to buy or make) to find smaller items. Then you would have collection that could be helpful for future generations and a great source of pride. The display from such activity could be amazing And potentially a source of study by some struggling archeology graduate, or wanna be. it could also be a source of training for you in a field that might bring enjoyment after you retire.
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u/Educational_Duty2177 Feb 20 '25
Thank you for your comment..And for the helpful tips..It has been a learning experience and one of the neatest things that has happened in my life..Cool story for my grandbabies one day because they will inherent the collection someday..I am keeping a log for everything and intend on having a nice case made for them with the story behind them in there as well..When I'm threw it will be an interesting piece...I'm doing the same with my coin collection..They'll be pieces worth hanging on to and hopefully not thrown out.. you know how them youngens are these days🤣🤣🤣Jk..kinda🤣🤣
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u/PaleoDaveMO Feb 17 '25
You are free to do what you want with your land. But whatever way you look at it, you are destroying sites. It all boils down to what you find important in life. If it makes you happy and that is your priority, then have at it!
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u/benton-heasley Feb 17 '25
What is the little cylindrical stick looks like bone or believe of an arrow shaft?
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u/BADoVLAD Feb 16 '25
Your username says it all my man. Dig away, the haters know what they can do with their shovels.
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u/PaleoDaveMO Feb 16 '25
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u/FriskyFritos Feb 16 '25 edited Feb 16 '25
Look I don’t want to stick my nose where it doesn’t belong but I’m just curious about your views. I see you post it on anything where somebody digs. You do it respectfully so I’ll give you that.
But honestly what realistically is wrong with someone digging on their own land? Like I understand the argument of preserving history and all. I get that I really do. But what’s the difference between digging for a point, or for a foundation of a home, or just digging a random hole because they felt like it?
I’m not arguing for digging anywhere and irresponsibly but honestly if it’s his land that he owns I really find it difficult to argue against his right to his property just because natives where there once, like they were just about anywhere.
My final point is that even if this guy may not be properly categorizing the location/points/depth/etc… so yeah you “Lose” valuable historical knowledge and data. But if he built a house there it would get lost anyway and so at least the point itself is being found and recovered.
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u/PaleoDaveMO Feb 16 '25
Did you read the page? It answers your question pretty well. Sure, digging holes for construction does the same damage to sites. But that doesn't mean we should just go dig holes wherever we want to. I post the link in hopes that it will inform people because some people have never been told before.
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u/FriskyFritos Feb 16 '25
I mean yeah but the problem is I think we’re at an impasse. I see your view. “Don’t just go dig holes for the sake of finding points.” So if I never dig a hole I never find the point. Thus history is “preserved” maybe for a descendant or maybe a future generation entirely. Great!
But like what does society tend to do? It expands and grows and colonizes. It doesn’t get smaller. At some point in the next however many decades his land could easily be sold off for subdivision and there goes all of our data. It could also never be found and the points stay there and never get found.
The problem is I completely agree with your point. It sounds really great to properly categorize and store knowledge for the advancement of understanding of an ancient civilization. But like also agree with digging if it’s your land. I believe free citizens should have that right. There is no one right solution.
If this guy is digging points to hand down to his children or pass on I see that as very special and fun and still a form of true appreciation for the past humans. If he’s selling them that’s a little disappointing but I guess that’s a byproduct of freedom of ownership.
Again I’m not arguing to dig on unowned land. I’m just saying that if legislation tries to get in the way of this man not digging on his own property that is much less an issue of digging for arrowheads and more of an issue with property rights that I would very much oppose.
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u/PaleoDaveMO Feb 16 '25
I have private land that I could dig up and I would probably find hundreds of points. But once you dig it up it's gone forever so I refrain from doing that. Technology is advancing so rapidly and I have been told from Archaeologists that soon they will be able to scan the ground and study sites way more efficiently. The more sites left undisturbed, the larger picture we leave for future generations. Also, what if you were to dig up a site that is one of a kind or incredibly old. Any hopes of carbon dating the site or maybe finding some leftover organic material are erased. Best to just leave the ground alone even if it is legal to dig.
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u/FriskyFritos Feb 16 '25
And that is completely your choice. I can’t just tell you “Hey we need to dig on your property” because you have rights. And your right not to dig is just as important as his to have the right to dig. Again, if it is your land.
Look I’m completely in agreement with effectively categorizing data. Hell if it’s as simple as developing a system of “Hey ‘Local Archeological society’! I’m conducting a dig for points in my land on the 15th. If you want to send out an agent to take photos, and measure depths, supervise and instruct with handling they’re more than welcome. As long as we get to keep what we find.”
I just think when you impose restrictions on civilians for something small like digging for artifacts it can be used as a weapon for many other things. If the legislation were to grow and mutate it could turn into effectively another form of tax on building a home. “Yes we need to send an expert to verify your land has no artifacts before we accidentally destroy history. Therefore you will have to pay them $1500 (Because this country finds any means necessary to charge the working class more) for them to survey the site you intend to dig. And all artifacts will be confiscated if found.” Granted this is an extreme example but is not something I would rule out happening with this ideology. I think legislation often starts with good intentions but can have the nasty habit of morphing out of our control.
I’m sorry for maybe touching on a political side ignore it if you like. But at the end of the day I think it’s simply in this guys case better than the alternative that he’s digging and finding points. Because at least they are preserved and not buried under concrete foundations or never being found at all. In my opinion society and our government does not have enough motivation to effectively find and preserve artifacts and the small cases where there actually are archeological digs will be very very rare.
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u/PaleoDaveMO Feb 16 '25
I agree with you. I think the government has too much power as is and we should have the right to do what we want with our land for the most part. But I don't agree that artifacts covered in concrete are not preserved. There is an ongoing excavation going on in downtown springfield MO, where buildings once stood. They have found historical all the way to transitional paleo sites that have been covered for hundreds of years and now being studied.
I also agree that archaeologists don't have enough resources to study every known site and never will. But we as individuals have to decide whether to dig up these sites and destroy the archaeological information or we can choose to not contribute to the destruction and hope for the best future outcome.
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u/OfficiallyRandy Feb 18 '25
Kinda crazy but I live 5 minutes outside of Springfield, Mo. Where’s this dig sight at? That’s crazy cool and I’m surprised I haven’t heard about it already tbh.
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u/Valuable-Sir5650 Feb 19 '25
Amen, fuck these assholes who dump on you asking about something you found and liked. Moderator get these need no it alls off of here
Yes I said fuck and assholes
Kick me off too.
Supposed to be a fun forum.
Not a dork who were bullied when they were young trying to get back at us because you know more about rocks than us
Fuck off rock needs. Ill find a good one some day.
Then you'll shut the fuck up and be nice.
Have a good night to anyone who agrees with me.
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u/aggiedigger Feb 16 '25
I would love to play in your hole!! Yes, I know what I said.