need digging advice!!!

[west_texas_points]

im on private land that i have permission to hunt/dig on and i found a big camp site and kinda confused. I've dug about 2-3 feet and no sign of flint anywhere , and theres alot of burnt rock, its on a hilll , and near a water source. Please can some of you experieced diggers help me out .

[StonedAge]

have u found any points in concentrated areas ?

[west_texas_points]

no.....but found some worked pieces of flint ....

[cavemaan73]

Try a few test holes around the midden area. I always liked the uphill area above a midden.

[comanche]

Try some more test holes,,,,Esp. at the edge of the fire rings.
Good luck and remember "If this were eazy,,,,Everyone would do it/////c

[MidlandMan]

Early Paleo here has no fire/burned rock features. The lack of said features is diagnostic to this period.

[bulletproof002000]

I have found the same thing in Crane Co. tons of burnt rock but no flint?

What I did was walk from the burnt rock about ten feet and dug test holes all around in a circle. Then I went out another 10 feet. at thirty on the east side of the midden, I started finding flint. I have only found one point and three trade points so far, but Im on to something.
West Texas Middens are very different than those found in Central Texas.

[west_texas_points]

as far as test holes....how far do i dig down or at an angle and how wide...????

[cavemaan73]

This is my plan... I start by digging a 2x2 circle the depth of my shovel. Sift the dirt making sure I didn't miss any birdies or artifacts. Clean and level hole. Start at the edge again 8" back and widen the circle again. Sift, clean and level. The ledge you have started should break free a lot easier now. Make sure you keep the dirt back away from the hole as it will get bigger. Not sure if you have to fill your holes back either. I prefer to wheel barrel the dirt way from my dig zone. A clean hole has advantages. When you get 4' wide start again in the middle a go a layer deeper. The ledges allows easy digging in any layer. I keep digging down tell I'm positive there is nothing underneath, no signs at all. Then maybe test the bottom randomly while you dig. The layers can change in just a few feet. A horizontal ditch will help identify hot spots also. Good luck!

[bulletproof002000]

Hard to say how deep, if you dont find any signs after 18" to 2 feet, cover it and move on. I have noticed that the flint in a west Texas midden will be east of the fire ring in most cases.