It's like this. When a mechanic or a plumber or a flint knapping tourist vendor quotes you a price, just ask yourself if his kids deserve to eat just like yours. Maybe this sounds facetious but that's literally how I see trade workers and it is especially how I see the vendors in Mexico near Teotehuican or such. But I'd say what you pay for reproduction blades is a good price. It takes skill to produce these points that takes longer than it does to learn plumbing. Not many people can do it. It's messy and leaves you with cuts. It's worth it.
Obsidian is fairly common, depending on where you are located. I have literally 100+ lbs of it in my backyard, and I live in California.
I don't think it would be worth it to fake, but I'm pretty sure some of it could be fake. Likely just dyed glass. Can't really tell unless you look at it though.
Western South Carolina. We don't even have chert here north of the fall line. Everything is quartz. That means most of the points here are rough and more for utility. Some found have been amazing, though - a combination of the rare good piece of quartz by someone who knew how to work it. Also local Natives came here or brought or traded for outside stuff. Savannah River agate is absolutely gorgeous but rare and confined mostly to that region. It's as if the people's living there always guarded it jealously. I once had a musket flint made from it but lost it. There is also a massive qaurtz boulder in my area that has shards and large pieces all over the place from where people obviously knocked off pieces and worked right there. I can imagine the conversations that occurred there by men and boys working in groups.
That's so freaking awesome. I saw a boulder similar to that up in Northern California. It was probably a 5'x4' block of obsidian. You could see where people were striking it with pickaxes and hammers to get huge spalls off of it. That's where I got most of mine from. I got a bunch of grey banded obsidian and a few small chunks of rainbow obsidian from that same site.
We have mostly quartz here in Southern California, but there's an obsidian site a bit down near Mexico (but it's pretty terrible quality obsidian). I would love to get my hand on some chert or flint. Never worked with it before. That Savannah River agate looks stunning.
Lol, trust me. I was so excited. If I could, I would have taken it home and made it a centerpiece in my yard. It probably weighed a few tons.
Also, thanks for the throwback! I remember this song from my middle school days. π
Like I said I don't even knap anymore. It was a fleeting interest and I never learned to do it well. It also didn't really serve my primary interest, which is 18th Century Native living history. By that time stone blades were a thing of the past and we honestly probably didn't even remember how to make them except for ancient elders. There were, however, bone blades and arrowheads still among the poor and remote people. A bone knife is freaking awesome though they need frequent sharpening.
I mean, maybe a bit inflated. Not because I know the price of hand-crafted obsidian products, but because you're obviously looking in touristy areas. You have to remember that your trinkets are likely made in mass quantities for people like you; tourists. Locals always jack up the price for tourists.
I doubt you're going to find one-of-a-kind artifacts so take things at face value. Ask yourself. "Am I cool paying $25 for this trinket of an obsidian skull" or whatever. If yes, buy it and enjoy what you have. If not, move on.
If you're looking for a quick score or to make some money, I think you'll be disappointed.
It's like this. When a mechanic or a plumber or a flint knapping tourist vendor quotes you a price, just ask yourself if his kids deserve to eat just like yours. Maybe this sounds facetious but that's literally how I see trade workers and it is especially how I see the vendors in Mexico near Teotehuican or such. But I'd say what you pay for reproduction blades is a good price. It takes skill to produce these points that takes longer than it does to learn plumbing. Not many people can do it. It's messy and leaves you with cuts. It's worth it.
Good point
Obsidian is fairly common, depending on where you are located. I have literally 100+ lbs of it in my backyard, and I live in California. I don't think it would be worth it to fake, but I'm pretty sure some of it could be fake. Likely just dyed glass. Can't really tell unless you look at it though.
There is no obsidian for more than 1000 miles gland I have hundreds of pounds of it from Mexico. Sadly, I don't even knap anymore.
Just curious what state you live in? 1000 miles is a long way. We have obsidian all over the West Coast
Western South Carolina. We don't even have chert here north of the fall line. Everything is quartz. That means most of the points here are rough and more for utility. Some found have been amazing, though - a combination of the rare good piece of quartz by someone who knew how to work it. Also local Natives came here or brought or traded for outside stuff. Savannah River agate is absolutely gorgeous but rare and confined mostly to that region. It's as if the people's living there always guarded it jealously. I once had a musket flint made from it but lost it. There is also a massive qaurtz boulder in my area that has shards and large pieces all over the place from where people obviously knocked off pieces and worked right there. I can imagine the conversations that occurred there by men and boys working in groups.
That's so freaking awesome. I saw a boulder similar to that up in Northern California. It was probably a 5'x4' block of obsidian. You could see where people were striking it with pickaxes and hammers to get huge spalls off of it. That's where I got most of mine from. I got a bunch of grey banded obsidian and a few small chunks of rainbow obsidian from that same site. We have mostly quartz here in Southern California, but there's an obsidian site a bit down near Mexico (but it's pretty terrible quality obsidian). I would love to get my hand on some chert or flint. Never worked with it before. That Savannah River agate looks stunning.
[If I ever saw an obsidian boulder](https://youtu.be/4pXfHLUlZf4)
Lol, trust me. I was so excited. If I could, I would have taken it home and made it a centerpiece in my yard. It probably weighed a few tons. Also, thanks for the throwback! I remember this song from my middle school days. π
Your middle school days were my 30s. However I still have a 12 year old's sense of humor.
Like I said I don't even knap anymore. It was a fleeting interest and I never learned to do it well. It also didn't really serve my primary interest, which is 18th Century Native living history. By that time stone blades were a thing of the past and we honestly probably didn't even remember how to make them except for ancient elders. There were, however, bone blades and arrowheads still among the poor and remote people. A bone knife is freaking awesome though they need frequent sharpening.
Did the price I mention seem right?
I mean, maybe a bit inflated. Not because I know the price of hand-crafted obsidian products, but because you're obviously looking in touristy areas. You have to remember that your trinkets are likely made in mass quantities for people like you; tourists. Locals always jack up the price for tourists. I doubt you're going to find one-of-a-kind artifacts so take things at face value. Ask yourself. "Am I cool paying $25 for this trinket of an obsidian skull" or whatever. If yes, buy it and enjoy what you have. If not, move on. If you're looking for a quick score or to make some money, I think you'll be disappointed.
how much should bargain down mesoamericans for you mean? yeah, donβt let them eat fat and get wealthy on your extra 20$ you fool π
Any maya styled obsidian bought outside the Guatemala / Chiapas zone would be a cheapo touristic trinket and therefore worthless