I.D. possible unfinished pestle?

[zoltan]

This was given to me as a gift from a friend who found it here in Phoenix, AZ. It appears to my untrained eye to be an unfinished piece. The pecking around the bottom of the stone doesn't not go around completely. The top of the stone seems relatively damage free, as if it was not used extensively. The stone appears to be a basalt but I am not certain. Any help be greatly appreciated.

front view with pecking

back view unfinished side

one for scale

 

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[SOHIO]

Hard to say what it was going to be, maybe they used it like it is. Does it have any polish to it anywhere? maybe it was a club and the pecked area was for hafting? Some pcs just leave you guessing.

 

[Cachefind09]

The groove looks like one that you would find on an axe or hammer. Does the bottom look jagged and rough or is it smooth and polished? From what I see in the photos, I would guess that it isn't a pestle but a broken hammer or possibly broken axe with the break occurring right at the groove. Though I'm not sure if these type of stone tools are found in Arizona.

 

[zoltan]

The bottom of the piece is rough. Doesn't seem that jagged. I am thinking that it could be a broken piece the more I look at it. I might have to find a similar type rock and see how it breaks.

 

[Th3rty7]

I agree, it looks like the groove abd back end of a Hohokam(sp?) axe or maul. Possibly a salvaged tool?

 

[Twitch]

As usual I think Th3rty7 is right on (and Cachefind too). There would be no reason to peck a groove around the end of a tool like that. Really neat find. I've never found so much as ever a broken piece of anything grooved.

 

[GL]

Looks like a broken skull thumper to me. Add the other half hafted to a handle and it would be an excellent tool for hunting humans.