Flake or Flute?

[Desertdrifter]

I found this last Wednesday. It is 11/4" long x 1/2" wide. Is it a channel flute or a worked flake? Thank you in advance for any comments. Mark

[Desertdrifter]

Thanks for all the help guys. Seriously, on a board that claims to be about helping others, no replies? Wow!

[gregory84]

Its hard to tell from the pictures, maybe that's why no one replied. I know its not much help, but maybe with some better pics or description it would be easier.

[ghost recon]

Hard to tell. Is there any evidence of a bulb of percussion where it was struck off as a channel flake. I've seen some really beautiful reworked channel flake knives.

[fldwlkr]

All the guys in texas are probably busy with that free dig site and the midwest experts are getting frames together for the Ripley show. If I found that in Ohio, I would guess a flake scraper. Looks knapped on the side to me but I can't tell about the end in the pics.
My humble opinion(which is often wrong)
fldwlkr

[joshuaream]

From some of the other flaking going on there from both ends, I'd say it's a nice tool made from a blade taken off a core. But I am not a flake expert, i can't see the side view and reverse side, nor are the pictures clear enough to really see what's going on.

Most actual channel flakes I've seen from paleo sites appear to have fractured during the fluting process (the flake comes off in a couple of pieces.) The same in knapping videos, the channel flake usually comes of in pieces.

About not having any replies, a lot of people navigate the forums with the New Posts link up top. If you ask a very specific question, you are going to get fewer responses as people may simply not have an opinion or familiarity with the subject. Fewer responses means it doesn't pop back up when someone checks New Posts, and the topic sinks down the page pretty quickly. Just bump it up and ask again.

[Indianasmith]

I'd go with a core blade knife. Cool find regardless!!!

[dirtscratcher]

Since it appears to have more than one flake scar that runs lengthwise, it's probably not a channel flake, but rather a blade struck from a core. That's assuming it's uniface, looks like it from the picture. It also appears to have some curvature that would probably rule out a channel flake. It could very well be paleo. In focus pictures always help as well as of both sides.

[Desertdrifter]

Thank you for the replies guys. It is uniface and has a very slight curvature Must be a well worked flake knife. I know the pics aren't the best but the flaking down both side is the Tiniest, most uniform and best I've ever seen on any artifact.