jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Nov 29, 2012 5:31:16 GMT -5
Best done in the summer and when river is low.Found in a 30 foot circle of river bottom below a shoal(typically a major indian crossing).Water was 2-3 feet deep.About 6 hours,me and wife. Notice polish from sand in current.Was heat treated. Oddly,no spearheads.But 2-3 feet thick in chips,cores,preforms form ancient man making his stone tools on the shoal.The shoal being a ancient petrified coral reef-a giant fossil.Probably my favorite place on earth.Shoals like this occur every 500-1500 yards on this river. If you get bored artifact hunting,the coral heads are pretty,too.
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Thunder69
Cave Dweller
Thunder 2000-2015
Member since January 2009
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Post by Thunder69 on Nov 29, 2012 17:05:10 GMT -5
Thats a sweet display...John
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keystonecops
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2010
Posts: 957
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Post by keystonecops on Nov 29, 2012 19:44:45 GMT -5
I'm so thinkn road trip. Later Clyde
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Post by talkingstones on Nov 29, 2012 21:45:06 GMT -5
Where in Florida is this?.... Just wondering.... Cathy
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hubrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2011
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Post by hubrocks on Nov 30, 2012 0:35:07 GMT -5
NIIIIIICCCCCEEE! How fun is that...............Hub
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Nov 30, 2012 0:38:59 GMT -5
you must be doing all this along the west coast... I haven't seen anything like that around me, east/space coast.
But still real nice material!!
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Nov 30, 2012 2:44:16 GMT -5
This reef was about 300 miles long and 40 miles wide.It starts about Tampa Florida and ends up in south Georgia.It is a slight ridge and I-75 runs on it.This ridge was covered with shallow water when the polar caps were melted at an ancient time.The reef formed then.This particular shoal is one of many along the Withlacoochee River about the Florida/Georgia state line.This particular shoal was one of them that was heavily populated w/ancient man.The camp above this shoal looks to be at least several hundred acres judging by the amount of heat treated coral chips laying in the logging roads.But may be several miles along the river judging by the amount of debitage on each shoal for miles travelled via kayak. Any river or creek crossing that stretch of I-75 has cut thru the sand to the old ocean floor. Santa FE,Suwanee,Withlacoochee,the pounding ocean off of Tampa to New Port Richey,ditches from orange groves etc.The geology is pretty simple.A huge plate of limestone with a thin layer of clay and coral say 0 to 6 feet thick.Then 20-40 feet of sand piled on top.So where ever the rivers have cut down to,or digging equipment has dug down to,this layer of clay/coral exposure for rockhouds occurs.The islands off of Tampa And New Port Richey like Anclote Key 3 miles out in the ocean have coral and artifacts.Hundreds of small islands in that area bearing petrified coral along w/artifacts.And other fossils occur along with the fossilzed/petrified coral.The Santa FE,Peace,Suwanee and others are covered with rhino,taper,saber tooth,masta,pig,sloth,deers bones.And any other animal you find in Africa and South America.Fossilized deer ribs served as punches,hair pins or whatever they used them for as you can find many in the Santa Fe.They look like fat pencils sharpened on both sides-only by human manipulation.Keep in mind that a fossil permit is required.And the Peace river is open to do hand tool digging if you need a Florida vacation and have 100 percent success at fossil hunting.Most of these rivers are white sand bottom and crystal clear.
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Fossilman
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Member since January 2009
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Post by Fossilman on Nov 30, 2012 17:05:40 GMT -5
Freakin' awesome!
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jcinpc
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2009
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Post by jcinpc on Jan 6, 2013 20:46:11 GMT -5
you do know that diving or snorkling for any man made object over 50 years old is illegal in our lovely state ,( and Ga) right? Judy Bense pulled our IFP about 6-7 years ago. Fossils only and with a $5 permit
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jan 6, 2013 22:08:22 GMT -5
I am guilty.
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Post by Pat on Jan 6, 2013 23:26:23 GMT -5
Why is it called "turtle back"? Awesome to find a tool used by somebody so long ago, and to hold it in your hand.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jan 6, 2013 23:29:45 GMT -5
Simply because it is shaped like a turtle.And it is amazing that people used that tool so many years ago.
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