Reproduction or Replica?
Unpublished 12/31/99 What is the difference? A reproduction is a copy of any artifact which simulates or resembles the original, or may vary slightly from it; but to the ordinary […]
Collecting beginning
As the early pioneer farmers began to turn the sod and cultivate the fields of rural North America, stone age artifacts of long past civilizations began to emerge from their […]
Perfect Arrowhead Phenomena
Pg.9, Vol.XXXI No.2,1997 “Prehistoric American” Perfect means flawless. Phenomena means an unusual, unaccountable, remarkable fact or occurrence. The appearance of thousands of perfect arrowheads in the last 10 years; must certainly […]
False patina; an illusion of age
Pg.31, Vol. XXX, No.1, 1996, “Prehistoric American” What is patina? Webster’s dictionary(2) says:”the sheen on antique surface produced by use and age”. If that is patina, what is false patina? I […]
Artifact or Artifake?
Pg.186,Vol.31, No.4 ,1984, “Central States Archaeological Journal” My past experiences as Editor-inchief of both the Redskin and Artifacts magazines provided an excellent opportunity to personally examine thousands of genuine, ancient artifacts […]
Etiquette of a Gentleman Collector
Pg3, Vol.XXXIV, No.4, 2000, “Prehistoric American” For 31 years, most of my editorializing has been the subject of Frauds, etc. This is the forty eighth publication I have produced for the GIRS, […]
Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing
Pg.142, Volume 46, No3,1999, “Central States Archaeological Journal” Wolves abound everywhere and while you may not readily recognize them, they prey on avocational archaeologists and artifact collectors alike. These wolves have […]
A preoccupation with Fakes?
Pg.31,Vol.XXX, No.2, 1996, “Prehistoric American” I certainly hope not.But the fact remains that Fakes are an ever present problem. Late in 1988, I was politely informed by one of our illustrious […]
How to Have a Successful Show
Attending an artifact show is easy. You pull up, walk through the doors and spend a few hours viewing the collections on the tables. You can admire and even acquire […]
How to tell a Fake
Pg.109, Vol.VI, No.4, 1969 “The Redskin” Fakes come in two kinds, those that are sold; and those that sell them. And sometimes you can’t tell the last kind anything. Experience is […]