I'm a little hesitant to take a shovel to my landowners pasture. lol But I must ask, what kind of terrain would you look for if you were going to?
I search along the sides of water paths (creeks, rivers etc..). Look for flint that has been worked, along the water paths. Sometimes you can find a noticeable place on the terrain that is raised higher than the rest of area (mounds). Mounds were the common area for the tribes (used over and over for thousands of years). Think from this day into the future a thousand years and what people will be digging up at our deer camps, beer bottles, spent cartridges, knives anything they may have fallen out of your pockets (It is indicative today as it was thousands of years ago). You might also see midden rocks (stones that were used in their fire pits/mounds). Another thing to look for is snails by the thousands if you are digging (great indication of a gathering place of ancient tribes), they were a staple in their diets. As far as soil it can be the Blacklands of Central Texas, rocks of the Hill country or sandy soil of east Texas. The first thing to do (and this being a hunters forum) is try to visualize were you would have set up to survive before modern times. You would first and most importantly need a water source and then a source of food. So many artifacts have been covered by the giant cities but there is still plenty to be found if you put the effort into searching.
^^^^^ Agreed. We always looked for spots where there is a convenient water source (but not in the flood plane). Consider how far a group of people (with their belongings) could travel in a day when searching for encampments along water routes. Look for Middens (not just cooking middens but 'trash' middens too. SNAILS...if you find TONS of small white snail shells you are in the right spot. You can find points literally anyplace there was game to hunt but to find a LOT of artifacts you need to find an encampment and you need to be able to dig.
I always start at what I imagine to be the perimeter of a site and 'pot hole' inward to see what turns up. Fascinating to find different types of points at different levels/depths. If relegated to surface finds...you will eventually develop a 'trained eye' that will let you pick out certain tell-tale characteristics as you walk and scan. But be forewarned, it is addictive and you will develop a bad habit of looking on the ground for points instead of looking UP for game when hunting.
I'm a little hesitant to take a shovel to my landowners pasture. lol But I must ask, what kind of terrain would you look for if you were going to?
I search along the sides of water paths (creeks, rivers etc..). Look for flint that has been worked, along the water paths. Sometimes you can find a noticeable place on the terrain that is raised higher than the rest of area (mounds). Mounds were the common area for the tribes (used over and over for thousands of years). Think from this day into the future a thousand years and what people will be digging up at our deer camps, beer bottles, spent cartridges, knives anything they may have fallen out of your pockets (It is indicative today as it was thousands of years ago). You might also see midden rocks (stones that were used in their fire pits/mounds). Another thing to look for is snails by the thousands if you are digging (great indication of a gathering place of ancient tribes), they were a staple in their diets. As far as soil it can be the Blacklands of Central Texas, rocks of the Hill country or sandy soil of east Texas. The first thing to do (and this being a hunters forum) is try to visualize were you would have set up to survive before modern times. You would first and most importantly need a water source and then a source of food. So many artifacts have been covered by the giant cities but there is still plenty to be found if you put the effort into searching.
If you are in Pflugerville...then you might already know..the North and South San Gabriel are rich with artifacts (or used to be if not picked over). Back the mid 70's we contacted Land Owners along both rivers and secured permission to look for surface finds. But as more and more people started doing that ( some people trespassing) it wasn't any longer possible by the 80's.
Our place is just north of Coleman. This one was found up on top the plateau but I have found another similar in the valley beneath that was formed like a hatchet head. This one was not as well formed so i was wondering if it was worked.
Yes, definitely 'worked'. Examine that one closely and keep it in your head. Any time you see obvious flake scars (in succession) it was done by human hands.
IF you find the right spot (not previously gone over) you can sometimes find quite a few artifacts. I found all of these (and dozens of broken pieces) in a single afternoon (digging) on my Aunt's property at the head waters of Bull Creek in Austin (late '70s).
Nothing too spectacular but a good 'mix' of points and small blades. Good return on an afternoons digging.
Nice find for an afternoon. I used to be able to hunt on private property on the Guadalupe, with in throwing distance of Gruene hall. My private Idaho sold a couple of years ago to build million dollar homes. They scraped all the topsoil and hauled it off. Pretty bummed about it.
Life is too short, as is. Don't chance it. Don't text and drive.
I'm a little hesitant to take a shovel to my landowners pasture. lol But I must ask, what kind of terrain would you look for if you were going to?
I search along the sides of water paths (creeks, rivers etc..). Look for flint that has been worked, along the water paths. Sometimes you can find a noticeable place on the terrain that is raised higher than the rest of area (mounds). Mounds were the common area for the tribes (used over and over for thousands of years). Think from this day into the future a thousand years and what people will be digging up at our deer camps, beer bottles, spent cartridges, knives anything they may have fallen out of your pockets (It is indicative today as it was thousands of years ago). You might also see midden rocks (stones that were used in their fire pits/mounds). Another thing to look for is snails by the thousands if you are digging (great indication of a gathering place of ancient tribes), they were a staple in their diets. As far as soil it can be the Blacklands of Central Texas, rocks of the Hill country or sandy soil of east Texas. The first thing to do (and this being a hunters forum) is try to visualize were you would have set up to survive before modern times. You would first and most importantly need a water source and then a source of food. So many artifacts have been covered by the giant cities but there is still plenty to be found if you put the effort into searching.
Water is key. Also look for an area above flood plain. Early inhabitants also set their camps up to face the eastern rising sun. Quicker to warm up in the morning.
Life is too short, as is. Don't chance it. Don't text and drive.
Our place is just north of Coleman. This one was found up on top the plateau but I have found another similar in the valley beneath that was formed like a hatchet head. This one was not as well formed so i was wondering if it was worked.
Yes, definitely 'worked'. Examine that one closely and keep it in your head. Any time you see obvious flake scars (in succession) it was done by human hands.
IF you find the right spot (not previously gone over) you can sometimes find quite a few artifacts. I found all of these (and dozens of broken pieces) in a single afternoon (digging) on my Aunt's property at the head waters of Bull Creek in Austin (late '70s).
Nothing too spectacular but a good 'mix' of points and small blades. Good return on an afternoons digging.
Nice find for an afternoon. I used to be able to hunt on private property on the Guadalupe,with in throwing distance of Gruene hall.My private Idaho sold a couple of years ago to build million dollar homes. They scraped all the topsoil and hauled it off. Pretty bummed about it.
