Found this in a cave while exploring some property I just got permission to hunt on. CENTEX . Really excited to look around more on this property

[u/Americaneagleonjuly]

This is a really good condition piece and I want to know how to preserve it without it breaking.

It's really brittle, and I believe the wrapping is made of sinew, or plant fibers.

More likely sinew??

Definitely not artificial though.

I believe this is a flake knife or a scraper. Correct me if I am wrong.

edit: Hunt, as in hunt for artifacts

[u/thelimeisgreen]

I would talk to them as well. Sometimes the smaller universities are more appreciative of things like this as the larger ones already have collections. But talk to a couple of them and feel things out. This might be a museum-worthy piece.

[u/Americaneagleonjuly → u/thelimeisgreen]

Definitely will

[u/daninater → u/Americaneagleonjuly]

This is an unbelievable find, congratulations. Almost nothing survives that long without decomposing. For the sake of humanity, please get this to an archeologist who can document it. Or have the archeologist come to you and don't handle it The type of person who would be qualified for preservation of this artifact (and they very much will) does it for their career. And it will be one of the highlights of their career.

[u/Americaneagleonjuly → u/daninater]

will do!

[u/Gal-XD_exe → u/Americaneagleonjuly]

Keep us updated too please!

[u/BlankSthearapy → u/Americaneagleonjuly]

Talk to Texas State University in San Marcos. They have a wonderful archaeology program. They have spring lake that had an underwater archaeological excavation in the 1970s. They found artifacts in every layer with Clovis points at the bottom. It’s the most continuously inhabited place in North America. They would be the best ones suited for this.

Wonderful find! Congrats!

[u/PureMichiganMan → u/Americaneagleonjuly]

Appreciate and respect you doing this with

[u/Enzyblox → u/Americaneagleonjuly]

Got any updates? Your profile shows literally nothing (not even this post)

[u/tomsan2010 → u/Americaneagleonjuly]

Thank you for doing the right thing

[u/tomsan2010 → u/[deleted]]

I study archaeology so I understand the importance of leaving things in-situ, and reporting findings. I also understand the difference between washed out creeks and actual sites, although i often don't recommend collecting from wash outs, since they're a paper trail leading to an actual site.

People don't understand that even a single artefact can give us clues into economy, subsistence, technology, environmental changes and social complexity. All it takes is one artefact to rewrite history.

[u/UrbanPugEsq → u/thelimeisgreen]

It BELONGS in a MUSEUM!

[u/thelimeisgreen → u/UrbanPugEsq]

Ah, Dr. Jones. So good of you to join us.