[JimSEA]

In comparison with many of his peers, the maker of this cutting tool was a craftsman and the extra trouble he must have gone to for likely aesthetic reasons. It hints at a mind and communication processes beyond what many had given these people at that time.

Your discussion on tool making is interesting.

[TXnMA]

Thanks! My interests in archaeology are diverse. As a Texas State Archeological (offcial Texian spelling) Steward, my specialization in prehistoric archeology is lithic tool fabrication technology and replication. For that, I use primitive tools: hammerstones ("hard hammers"), antler "billets" ("soft hammers") and antler tine pressure flakers and punches.

OTOH, my specialization in historic archeology is in "Rut Nutting" (the detection and mapping of pioneer and prehistoric trails, traces, roads, abandoned railbeds, etc. For that, my primary tools are "OHI" (OverHead Imagery -- including Google Earth) and "LiDAR" -- for which I write my own "Matrix Convolution spatial filters"...

At least, it keeps this 78+-orbit mind busy when it's too hot to go outside and survey or dig... '-)