THE LEARNING CENTER
How to tell new damage from old damage
Contributed by member Jim Bennett- "woodman32"
Patina or Patination -
When a relic is in the ground for hundreds of years the minerals from the ground will coat the rock with a thin layer or "skin" - this is called "patina" or "patination". Many artifakers will try to reproduce patina on newly flaked pieces, but there is a distinct difference in the appearance. It is wise to study all the old flints from your area to familiarize yourself with what patina in your area looks like.
how to tell new from old damage -
Look for differences in patina. If the chip is patinated, it is old and was probably damaged or broken in use. if there is a distinct color difference in the flint where the damage has chipped off the patina - it is probably new daamge.
The below example has both new and old damage. The new damage is from being shuffled around in a box of other arrowheads since the 1930's. Note the difference in flint color.
