Judy,
 
Unfortunately, the gunflint industry is one of those cases where everyone
was using the same stuff at the same time, so you won't be able to mark the
cache as Spanish or British based on the kinds of gunflints you've
recovered. You can have a little more luck, however, with the issue of when
the flints were deposited.
 
What kinds of gunflints are you looking at in the cache? The highest
percentage should be gunspalls if you're dealing with the early 18th
century, but it would certainly be no surprise to see a number of French
blade-types as well. In general, the more French blades you've got compared
to spalls, the later the date. The issue is complicated somewhat by the
depositional mechanism involved. The cache, while providing an excellent
snapshot of gunflint technology, may not offer up the kind of information
needed to work with relative dating techniques.
 
I assume the objects are made of European flint, not North American chert
-- is that the case? You mention the flints being charcoal-colored...
mottled grey flint is a very common material for gunspall makers in the
17th and 18th centuries. If there are lots of tiny and not-so-tiny whitish
inclusions, you're almost certainly looking at flint.
 
My 2¢.
 
John Guilfoyle
Archaeologist, Parks Canada
 
 
 
 
 
Judy Bense <[log in to unmask]> on 10/19/98 11:20:22 AM
 
Please respond to HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY <[log in to unmask]>
                                                              
                                                              
                                                              
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 Subject: gunflints                                           
                                                              
 
 
 
 
 


 
In the University of West Florida investigation of an early 18th century
Spanish presidio in Pensacola, we encountered a pit with 1217 charcoal gray
gunspalls and flints just outside the walls of a Spanish fort.
Unfortunately, I cannot date the cache, and it is either Spanish or
British.  All were unused and made from the same chert.
 
Has anyone found such a large cache of gunspalls and flints?  If so, what
was the context and cultural association?
>
 
 
 
 
Dr. Judith A. Bense, Professor and Director
Archaeology Institute
University of West Florida
11,000 University Parkway
Pensacola, FL 32514
voice: 850-474-2474
fax:   850-474-2764