#biface

This reconstructed biface brought together not just three pieces of a broken artifact but two sites on a northern Wisconsin reservoir as well. Red arrows point out the cracks where the three pieces match up on the two broad sides of the biface. The tip of the biface (to the left of the large double arrow) was found at one site during a survey in 1989, and the two adjoining pieces of the midsection and base (on either side of the small double arrow) were collected from the second site farther east in 2012. The refit indicated a direct connection between the two sites, and they were reclassified as one in the Wisconsin Historical Society’s archaeological site database. The sites likely were recorded as two separate ones during initial survey in 1989 largely because of higher water levels in the reservoir, which flooded the land between the sites but left two separate rises visible.

Acheulean, found in Aisne, France, made ca. 700,000-200,000 BC, housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

guess who pulled 3 bifaces out of a shovel test today

(via Happy Valentines Day!)

These two early archaic bifaces made of heat-treated Maynes Creek chert were found near Whiting, Monona County, in 1963. After they were found, reproductions were made. The bifaces were donated to the Monona CCB, and they have had the reproductions on display for some time. Both bifaces show edge wear that is suggestive of use in cutting. Such artifacts were often later worked into other kinds of tools and were frequently cached for later use.

Look at this incredible cache of 23 bifaces! This find was documented in 1992, only through photographs. It is referred to as the "Thomas Cache" from Henry County. It is very difficult to determine the exact type of lithic raw material from an aged photograph, but OSA archaeologists believe it to be cobden chert, which is found in far southern Illinois, not far from the Mississippi River.

2 weeks until the launch of "Oneota Archaeological Connections" in the University of Iowa Mobile Museum! The first public event will be at the Mid-America Paleontology Society Expo at the Sharpless Auctions Facility in Iowa City. You can find these large orthoquartzite bifaces from Blood Run in Lyon County on exhibit. They're made from orthoquartzite and were found by collectors before being donated to the Keyes collection. It's possible the orthoquartzite is from a source in Nebraska.