Colorado River finds, TX

**abarnard** · May 18, 2009, 05:05 PM

Found some artifacts yesterday 5/18/09. Some scrapers were found, but I am trying to figure out what that one stone artifact was used for, the one that looks like it has been smoothed on the sides. It has obviously been rubbed against stone or something else to make it look that way. It looks like sandstone mixed with K-spar. A chopper that was formed out of chert coble was also recovered, and two preforms or some kind of hoes,

Maybe you can give me an answer. Hope the pics are good enough. Thanks...

**Tnmountains** · May 18, 2009, 11:36 PM

Nice finds and scrapers.The stone looks like a typical hammer stone.
Good hunt.
TnMtns

**abarnard** · May 19, 2009, 09:58 PM

Thanks Tn Mnts.... hammerstones can have grinding on them, correct? I thought that hammerstones have slight chipping on them from use as a striking tool. The surface on this stone was really smooth on the sides that are not rounded. I have a pic from a hammerstone that I found down the river a ways from where I found this other one. This new pic, you can see where it has been used alot, the tip is really beat up. I took some more pics of that same stone artifact for you to see better. Thanks....

pippinwhitepaws · May 19, 2009, 10:19 PM

the pai people did not have access to nuts that needed a hammerstone.
seeds yes...i believe this is a small mano...a grinding stone for seeds... pinion perhaps...other cacti had tough little seeds needing to be squashed to become editable.

**abarnard** · May 20, 2009, 11:49 AM

Thanks that helps. It may be a mano of some sort for grinding up seeds, that didn't cross my mind. Thanks again.

**Tnmountains** · May 21, 2009, 01:23 AM

Originally Posted by abarnard

Thanks Tn Mnts.... hammerstones can have grinding on them, correct? I thought that hammerstones have slight chipping on them from use as a striking tool. The surface on this stone was really smooth on the sides that are not rounded. I have a pic from a hammerstone that I found down the river a ways from where I found this other one. This new pic, you can see where it has been used a lot, the tip is really beat up. I took some more pics of that same stone artifact for you to see better. Thanks....

Abarnard sorry for taking so long to reply. Those guys made hammer stones.pecking stones and polishing stones. Lots of time the old polished patina of the rock will remain.Other times they will polish the rock back to smooth. First picture is a typical pecking stone.The second small picture is a stone I think was used for pressure flaking same as antler.The third stone was a polishing stone possibly for softening leather. These were found with other mortars and pestles all working and fashioning tools.Thought they kinda looked like yours just diffrent examples.
Great finds and all keepers.

**abarnard** · May 21, 2009, 10:23 AM

That last stone that was used for polishing, etc. looks more like the one I found. Wow, so similar in comparison. Thanks alot for the helpful info. Cool photos. Hope to get back out this weekend to find more.