Exceptional Artifact & Collectible Auction
Lot 157:
5" Sedalia found in Lincoln County, Missouri
This Late Archaic Sedalia measures approximately 5 inches and is crafted from high quality Burlington chert. The material shows the soft mineralized surface and even patination expected of a piece recovered on the Koehler family farm as far back as the late 1800s, with the classic gray to cream coloration typical of weathered Burlington. The blade exhibits the defining Sedalia traits, including a long narrow well thinned body, straight to slightly expanding sides, and a carefully shaped base. Both faces show broad percussion thinning with refined pressure retouch along the edges, producing a clean symmetrical outline. The majority of the surface displays fully developed ancient patination with no evidence of modern reworking.
One side of the base shows an area of fresh damage where several flakes have been knocked off in a chaotic non patterned manner. The exposed areas are lighter than the surrounding patina, clearly indicating that the damage occurred long after the point’s prehistoric manufacture. The irregularity of the flake removals confirms that this is not an intentional rechip or modern attempt at alteration. Such damage is consistent with mishandling, plow strikes, or someone using the point for a task it was never meant to perform, a common occurrence among artifacts recovered from early farm collections. Despite this, the piece retains its overall form, workmanship, and integrity as a genuine Sedalia.
This artifact comes from the Koehler family’s four generation farm in Lincoln County, Missouri, discovered by Donald Koehler, his father, or his grandfather. Many artifacts from this collection were found in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and this Sedalia fits that long established pattern of early field recovery. The material, workmanship, and regional context align perfectly with known Sedalia finds from eastern Missouri and the central Mississippi Valley.
This artifact is an authentic Sedalia, exhibiting all diagnostic traits of the type including its elongated form, well thinned faces, and refined edgework. The Burlington chert shows proper ancient patination with softened flake scars and mineralized surface texture consistent with long term burial. The lighter more recent damage on one side of the base is entirely consistent with post recovery impact and does not detract from the piece’s authenticity. There is no evidence of modern rechipping or intentional alteration.
Based on its form, workmanship, patination, and documented Koehler family provenance from Lincoln County, Missouri, this is a fully authentic Sedalia and a solid example of the type.
Condition: Authentic
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