Flaked Stone

One of the most common items recovered from archaeological sites throughout California are tools shaped from stone, and the waste flakes that were a by-product of toolmaking. Because the interiors of house structures were used for a variety of work tasks and domestic activities, flaked stone materials tend to be concentrated there. Tools recovered from the Crooks Canyon houses includes projectile points (tips for spears, darts, or arrows), bifaces (miscellaneous tools which have been shaped on both sides, or "bifacially"), drills, and flake tools (multi-purpose cutting and scraping tools made from flakes).

Throughout northeastern California, obsidian was the preferred material for the manufacture of stone tools. At Crooks Canyon, obsidian from 22 different source locations in Oregon, Nevada, and northeastern California have been identified in archaeological collections. Mosa have been identified in archaeological collections. Most of these obsidian items, however, originated from volcanic exposures in the Warner Mountains, or from water-worn cobbles scattered throughout the alluvial fans and creek channels that front these mountains.

Obsidian source locations in Northern California. Crooks Canyon is located in the heart of obsidian country on the Modoc Plateau.

Flaked stone drill and biface.


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