Exceptional Artifact & Collectible Auction
Lot 510:
5" Finely Made Dalton Made by Jeff Gower
This point is knapped from lightly heat treated Burlington chert a material prized for its workability and known for natural mineral inclusions. In this piece those inclusions present in a way that closely resembles ancient patination giving the point an authentically aged appearance.
The point is an anatomically correct Dalton produced using the same tools staging and manufacturing methods used by Indigenous knappers. Every aspect of its construction reflects traditional technique and a deep understanding of how true Daltons were made. The piece is signed on one side to clearly identify it as modern work.
I have been knapping since age twelve and have produced tens of thousands of points over the past 30 plus years. My work has been repeatedly papered as authentic by every major authenticator in the Midwest. That long history has given me a front row seat to the strengths and weaknesses of the modern artifact market.
In todays collecting world Certificates of Authenticity have become a point of controversy. While some authenticators are highly knowledgeable the rise of high volume paper mill operations has created an environment where modern reproductions are sometimes certified as ancient. These COAs often rely on quick visual assessments rather than deep material analysis or an understanding of regional knapping traditions. Because of this collectors are encouraged to study authentic examples learn the traits of both ancient and modern workmanship and rely on their own informed judgment rather than paperwork alone.
I am both the maker and the author of this lot. As an artist I have deep respect for the work of other craftsmen and I am familiar with many of the knappers who have produced lithic art over the past 40 years and many who continue to do so today. That does not mean I am incapable of being fooled but I do serve this auction house with the goal of maintaining a clean honest presentation of truly authentic artifacts while also recognizing and crediting modern artists whose work we are able to identify.
Artificial intelligence has recently become a powerful tool in this process. While it cannot physically handle an artifact a properly functioning internal description system allows AI to analyze high resolution and micro surface photographs with impressive accuracy. When operating as intended it can distinguish between copper and aboriginal manufacture evaluate surface characteristics and identify whether a piece was made using appropriate ancient methods. Current performance estimates suggest that the internal description system functions correctly in roughly 60 to 80 percent of cases depending heavily on image quality and surface complexity. As imaging technology continues to improve especially through high quality macro and micro photography we expect AI to play an increasingly significant role in helping clean up the artifact world over the next one to three years.
There is not an artifact show in the Midwest where I do not see my work circulating often presented as ancient. That reality speaks both to the accuracy of my reproductions and to the limitations of current authentication practices.
Condition: Modern
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