Another Snake, an Old Tool, and Indian Artifacts

Yesterday we took the dogs for a walk. When we get to the creek we always stop for a few minutes and look for Indian artifacts.



We didn't find any, but Kathy did see this.



It's an artifact, just not Indian. Its an old combination wrench/screwdriver. The old dirt road that crosses this creek has been used for over 100 years, so no telling how old this is.



A minute or two after crossing the creek we got to some mud puddles that hold water for a long time after rains because of all the ATVs that spin their tires in them. I have a method of getting around the puddles. I grab a tree where the X is, and swing around it to the other side.



After I got to the other side this time and took a couple more steps, Kathy said, "Snake."

Yep, I walked right past a snake where the X is.



He blends in with the environment, but that's not why I didn't see him. I couldn't see what was on the other side of the tree before I swung around it, and after I did, I just moved forward to keep from getting in the water.



It's just a water snake, but it could have been a moccasin, copperhead, or rattler. I won't do any swinging to get to where I can't see anymore.

Since the last time we were in this area, the power line had been trimmed by a cutting crew. The heavy equipment disturbed the dirt in places, one of them here.



We haven't had a lot or rain lately, but we did have enough to expose this knife in the bank.



Ten minutes later, I spotted this.



It is a small Indian knife. We find these all the time. This one was made from a chert flake, and would have only too a few seconds to make. They would have made them, used them until they got dull, and then tossed them.

We both walked past this one at least once. The way the sun was shining, it blended into the dirt.



It's the top part of a large tool, probably an axe of some sort.