Paleolithic Tool From New Mexico - ~15,000 B.P. -CF111

Chloride Flats Paleolithic Tool - Paleo Scraper

Approximate Size- 42mm by 29mm by 10mm

Made From-Lake Valley Formation Chert

Approximate Age - Paleolithic - ~15,000 B.P.

Collection Number - CF111

You are buying direct from The Discoverer of The Chloride Flats Paleolithic Site!

Chloride Flats - Paleolithic Workshop Grant County, New Mexico

Upper Paleolithic - ~20,000 to 10,000 B.P.

(Working Field Notes- by Michael Cottingham)

In about the year 2002, I bought a piece of property in a small valley, near the town of Silver City, New Mexico. This valley, called Chloride Flats, contains some of the oldest and most productive silver mines that were ever discovered in the state of New Mexico. This area was also worked by earlier spanish explorers in the 15th and 16th century. Before that, for several thousands of years, the gem stone Turquoise was mined and collected here by more recent Native Americans. Evidence, both physical (dated) and empirical suggests that people were most certainly in this area 10,000 to 12,000 years ago.

However, in the Chloride Flats Valley, there is solid evidence that there was a pre-Clovis group of people, which lived here, ~10,000 years before the first Clovis people ever set foot here. The several quarries, lithic tool workshop sites, and living sites, suggest that pre-Clovis people did in fact live in The Chloride Flats Valley, perhaps,at least 5,000 years before the first fluted spear points were invented. It is more than likely, that once more detailed work is concluded at The Chloride Flats site, an age of 20,000 B.P. or older will be confirmed.

There are several sites south of Chloride Flats, New Mexico, in old Mexico, that have confirmed dates ranging from 20,000 to 31,000 years old. It is my belief that the Chloride Flats Site is of similar age, and perhaps tied in with these older sites from an earlier wave of migration. Also, the tools found at Chloride Flats are almost identical to many of the paleolithic tools found at these earlier sites.

Paleolithic tools that have been found at Chloride Flats todate, include: Uniface Blades and Knives, Uniface Scrapers, Uniface Tools, Flake Knives, Bladelets, Many types of Multi-Purpose Tools, Perforators, End-Scrapers, Thumbnail Scrapers, Hammerstones, Choppers, and others.

There are two distinct quarries on the property, which contain numerous chert nodules. These nodules are from the Lake Valley Limestone Formation in the area. Most of the tools are made from this chert (Lake Valley Chert), however, flint, agate, chalcedony, and fossilized honey comb coral artifacts have also been found.

There is a significant amount of chert nodules in the valley and there is no doubt that this was a very important source of tool making material for early people. It is worth noting that the Lake Valley Formation that produces these chert nodules, is not a wide spread formation, but extremely sporadic in the area. In fact, The Chloride Flats Valley is the only area where these chert nodules are abundant.

Near the quarry areas, many cores and partial cores have been found. Hundreds of chert nodules show signs of being worked or tested for strength, color, and fracturing capabilities. Below the quarries are the living and lithic work sites.

Todate, two quarries have been located, four living sites, and one area which I call “The Lithic Workshop” . This Lithic Workshop has produced hundreds of fine and complete Paleolithic tools. Since this chert deposit is one of the few in the area, I believe this was an extremely important site to Paleolithic people for many thousands of years. I would estimate the average date of these tools to be around 15,000 B.P., but many of them are no doubt much older.

*Important Note* The Chloride Flats Paleolithic Site is located on private property. All finds to date have been surface finds, that are well documented, photographed, described, and stored for further research. A small amount of material has been allocated to sell to collectors, so that further research can continue at the site. At this time all research is privately funded. Exclusive hunting permission has been granted to my group on ALL nearby properties and the valley is posted - No Trespassing. Written permission to enter private lands in the valley is required. There is no public land in the entire valley. People who come here to collect these artifacts without permission will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

A detailed Michael Cottingham Collection Card is included with each piece.

Thanks and Best Wishes

Michael Cottingham