Birdstone Pre-Form From Finger Lakes NY Region? Nah!!!!

[OntarioArch]

Found by homeowner 10+ years ago in soil dug for garage foundation; isolated house in very rural area; location just a few hundred yards from numerous known amatuer-dug NA sites as well as University/Museum archeological digs; really at the epicenter of Finger Lakes region known sites;

Details perhaps not obvious from my pics include two eyes.

The only conclusions I am sort of confident of are: a) it ain't a natural stone (not really confident on this one...) b) it ain't slate c) I have never seen anything remotely resembling this piece d) it's not very pretty e) I don't see any mineralization / patina on this stone

Identification? I am leaning toward a modern explanation: could it be a stone bird-form that was manufactured as part of a garden statue or some such, long ago abandoned, wrecked, and weather worn until it made its way into the ground that was dug? Third pic seems to show detailed 'feathers' that must have been made with modern tools....I think...
But if you'all think it is a NA birdstone pre-form, I am ready to accept your experienced opinions!

 

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[Kray Gelder]

A nifty sandstone/siltstone, naturally formed "effigy". IMO. Could very well have been a kept curiosity.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Sorry, it appears to be natural formed shaped sandstone.

 

[Tdog]

Although a cool looking piece, I agree that it is a natural formation.

 

[OntarioArch]

Thanks to all - natural it is! I will inform the old folks who asked me to evaluate it.

 

[newnan man]

Everyone on this site would have picked it up and gave it a good look! It's pretty neat but I agree with it being natural.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Everyone on this site would have picked it up and gave it a good look! It's pretty neat but I agree with it being natural.

Completely agree...

 

[joshuaream]

Do you have any pictures from the top down, or bottom up? I agree it looks natural, but there are a lot of sandstone birdstones out there. And NY forms can be quite a bit different than the Midwest forms.

 

[Force_of_Iron]

Sorry, it appears to be natural formed shaped sandstone.

No doubt about that. A great addition to the curiosities collection.

 

[OntarioArch]

Do you have any pictures from the top down, or bottom up? I agree it looks natural, but there are a lot of sandstone birdstones out there. And NY forms can be quite a bit different than the Midwest forms.

Here's the best other view I have.

 

[monsterrack]

It does look like a bird but I see no area that has been modified by man. An yes I would have brought it home, I have a piece that looks like a female body shape. Mother nature can do some very good shapes.

 

[Charl]

I can only agree that it looks natural, is sandstone, and perhaps a concretion. One thing that did strike me was how the sense of the eyes seems to be an effect of the layering. It reminded me of a bird from RI, in which the maker took advantage of banding in the stone to produce the effect of eyes. I think the way this sandstone object seemed to be using natural aspects of the stone to suggest eyes is the one thing that had me wondering. But, that said, I don't see signs of human alteration either, and assume the suggestion of eyes is just coincidental...

 

[Fred250]

If it looks like a duck....

 

[Older The Better]

Just guessing but maybe a burrow from some creature that filled with sand, the rock around it eroded and the sandstone remained

 

[arrow86]

I definitely would have picked it up too, I wonder what the beginning stages of a bird effigy looked like ?? Is there any examples anyone could provide I’m curious if they would have made a rough outline first ?