81842--Elk River-fine transverse flaking 3.475"

One half a sixteenth under 3&1/2", enough length that the 'ribbon flaking' of this Elk River Mid Archaic point/ knife has plenty of room to be displayed. These Benton Culture points used that transverse flaking to the highest standard of any Mid Archaic types-they're artistry, simply said. The widest part of the blade approaches 1&1/4", but thickness is only 5/16" max. NOTE--I intentionally did not wash the blade--if the color isn't perfectly clear it's because the knife came from a Jefferson County, Illinois, collection this way. Maybe the finder wanted it left "as is", and I can understand his thinking. Also, either there was some iron in the soil or some other factor that left a red deposit all over the one face. I've seen these Mid Archaic points found in 'shell mains', so part of the accumulation could be calcium--washing may remove the build-up, but that'll be the next owners decision. Note, too that the base was salvaged some 6500 BP--either that (damage repair) or the knapper worked to the very end of the preform, the base was sort of an "afterthought" How to you tell which, sometimes, but with the thickness of the basal edge I lean towards "made this way". Every detail is guaranteed real, period. Shipping is $9.00 with checks or M.O.s the two ways to pay. Sorry, I do not use paypal-type services--Roy A.