Why do you think these are artifacts?

I have handled thousands of rocks/artifacts/tools from our canyon site.  Each stone hand tool has use-wear and worked edges.  With the inordinate number of tools collected, patterns emerged.  These patterns (spanning multiple rock types) allowed us to focus on ground sides, and continued collection has subsequently reinforced our theories.  We now have a very large collection of stone tools ranging from the small (< 1 inch) finger tools to the large (20 inches) two handed tools, with consistent design methodology and use-wear, and it is something to see.

What rock types do you have?

Our rock types are primarily quartzite, sandstone, mudstone, and shale/slate. I have not identified the other types - this is an area that needs definition.  We also have quite a few large grained rock types with nice ground sides in our collection.

Do you see signs of knapping?

Not really. Many show chip marks (esp. quartzite), but most are heavily worn and soft in your hands hiding the original rough out.  I collected Alibates points and scrapers as a teenager and these tools are different.  

Any flint/chert?

Just a few pieces.

What types of tools do you have?

Classification is subjective, but I have the stone tools typed as follows:

   - finger tools

   - handaxes

   - handadzes

   - scrapers, cleavers and long edges

   - whetstones

   - others

A tool can belong to more than one category.  For example, I have scrapers that are finger tools (do not touch the palm during use).

These were found in New Mexico.  Any points/arrowheads?

No.

Any pottery?

No.

Any obsidian?

No.

Any hafting?

No.

Any manos or metates?

Not in the traditional sense.  We do have some bowls (large and small), and a few spherical grinding stones, but these make up a small part of the collection.  There are quite a few large, stationary netherstones used for grinding at the site, however.

Why are you finding so many tools on the surface?

I don't know the answer to this.  The canyon is mostly bedrock and sand, so I imagine the eroded sand has recently (historically speaking) been exposing the stone tools we find.

Any signs of ochre?

We have what looks to be a red pigment on quite a few of the tools, but it has not been tested.

Have you tried to duplicate the creation methods?

I used a whetstone to put a new edge on a broken mudstone finger tool.  It wasn't difficult.  I would imagine that all it takes to sharpen an edge is to grind the tool against another harder (reasonably) flat rock, but this has not been proven. I have also read that bones can be used for edge grinding.

How do you differentiate between a scraper and a cleaver?

Scrapers seem to have a a smooth long edge with (usually) a bend from the repetitive motions, and cleaver edges are straight and chipped.  Some cleaver edges also have an additional bevel (see home page).

I have been taught that there are no handaxes in North America...what gives?

Seeing is believing.  Holding is more believing.

How do you intend to prove that these are stone tools?

Through technology.  It's going to be tough for me to have another person duplicate what I have experienced/learned in the field. 

These have been surface collected.  Are there any buried stone tools?

We have found tools in cutbanks, so yes.

Could these stone tools be pre-Clovis?

This is pure speculation, but I believe they have a chance to be pre-Clovis tools.  New Mexico is rich with Clovis points, but we have little flint, no points (Clovis or otherwise), or other artifacts associated with the Clovis culture.  The lithic analyst that verified the slate tool on the home page thought it could be a woodworking tool, which (from my understanding) is not normally associated with the Clovis culture.

Why do you think they picked your location for stone tool creation?

I would imagine it was mainly because of the abundance of raw materials and the excellent visibility from the working areas. We have many quartzite outcroppings with scatter fields, mostly facing south.  These would provide excellent spots to craft stone tools.  We also have seasonal creeks, which may have been springs during prehistoric times.  Our site also has the landforms necessary for a game drive system, so this could be a possible reason.

What other observations do you have based on your time spent collecting these tools?

For one, they appreciated fossils.  Fossils seem to have been crafted into a tool when possible.  Tools also range from the very basic to advanced multitools, which is fascinating to me. Was this a progression? I don't know - time will tell.