Stone Age New York

Spiritwalker Petroglyph

Artifact and necklace

The Spiritwalker Petroglyph

Perhaps the rarest of all Native American artifacts, petroglyphs offer an insight into the thoughts of ancient stone artisans. Primarily found in the desert southwestern U.S., only a precious few have been found in New York State. This circular stone blade was carefully crafted with amazing detail. The raised center of the artifact is shaped in the plano-convex typology style, (see SANY-Feb. '08). Three depressions bored into the surface of the artifact could be interpreted as a "face".

Found on the banks of a small stream that flows into the Genesee river, this artifact could be a circular stone knife used by a tribal shaman, medicine man or chief for ceremonial purposes and/or religious rites.

With a flat base that is fluted on both sides and a raised center of plano-convex shape, we believe this artifact was created by paleo stone masons of Clovis/Clovis related stone tool culture.

Photo 1: Circular petroglyph surrounded by carved bear turquois necklace created by Spiritwalker.

Hardaway Points from the Genesee Valley

Pair of Hardaway Points

Genesee Hardaway Points

Hardaway spearpoints are primarily found in two regions of the U.S. Native to North Carolina, southern Virginia and Massachusetts, Hardaways date to 10,000-11,000 years BP. Hardaway points are considered to be atlatl darts, and are side-notched for easy hafting to a spearshaft using sinew.

The Archaic period, which begins about 8000 BC, is very close to the end of the Paleo period, a time of mass extinction of the Megafauna in North America. This is also the time period in which man exits the archaeological record, (for the most part), for nearly 4000 years from what is now known as New York State. Although Stone Age New York has found evidence that man was indeed here during this period, it is generally accepted by archaeologists that man did not inhabit New York again until the Brewerton and Lamoka interval thousands of years later.

Why did Paleoindians disappear from the archaeological record? Were they exterminated by the great Megafauna extinction event? Or could they have moved, perhaps south and west, driven by the terrible conditions that made the Megafauna history? The sheer beauty of the Hardaway atlatl dart shows us that by 8000 BC hunting technology had advanced to a previously unknown level of sophistication.

These Hardaway points show us that the Hardaway peoples either lived in, or visited western New York State, hundreds of miles from their known territory.

Photo 1: Hardaway Points from the Genesee River valley.

New York State in Stone

Artifacts resemble New York State

Handled Knife and Stone Clovis Point

Two styles of knife

Handled Knife

Side view

Hammerstone

Tool is based on curved Clovis typology

Paleo Tools

Stone tool set. Handled stone knife and stone Clovis Point. Artifacts were found in close proximity to each other and may have been made and used by the same person. Knife features a raised handle that fits comfortably between thumb and index finger. Side view of knife shows handle is raised from blade approximately half an inch. Clovis Point has small flute at base and tip, and was probably also used as a knife. Clovis and related peoples made knives of different styles for different tasks.

Also featured is a hammer stone. Tool is based on Clovis curved stone typology. Uniface tool is enhanced to show detail. With a thickness of 3/4 of an inch, this tool is durable and ready for heavy duty use as a hammer or weapon. Curved stone technology was used to create a variety of tools, including knives, drills and hammers.

Photo 1: Artifacts resemble outline of New York State.

Photo 2: Handled stone knife and stone Clovis Point.

Photo 3: Side view of handled knife.

Photo 4: Hammer stone based on curved stone typology.

Various Fluted Points

Fluted points from the Genesee valley