What is it?

[IMAUDIGGER]

Piece measures approx. 2-1/2" across.
Appears to have been spread out against soil.
Pieces vary in thickness, with the average being about 1/4" thick.
Roofing product? Flooring? Does not smell. Not especially strong..almost similar to a thin piece of poor quality brick. All pieces are flat...smooth side and a side with soil impression. Associated with shelter probably occupied right up to 1850's

 

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[antmike915]

Looks like tar, but I know tar has that smell. Don't know if real old tar would still have it.

 

[DizzyDigger]

Some type of schist?

 

[Older The Better]

maybe burned earth? From what I understand sometimes if they started a fire in the right soil the heat could convert the clay into the soil into a semi ceramic

 

[IMAUDIGGER]

The soil in this location is a sandy reddish clay.
It’s possible I suppose..I’m open to ideas.

Definitely not schist or any kind of rock.

 

[southfork]

Looks like a piece of old oiled road .

 

[IMAUDIGGER]

Looks like a piece of old oiled road .

Yes it does...didn’t come from anywhere near a road..
It could have been brought in on a wagon and dumped in a depression I suppose.
For some reason I suspect it is native building materials.

I thought about boiled pine pitch mixed with soil...I’m going to take a torch to a piece and see what happens.

 

[IMAUDIGGER]

So I found a likely candidate for identifying my mystery material.

"bigiu" glue made from boiled resin from evergreen trees mixed with powdered charcoal.
Sounds like it was used to waterproof things, so I was probably not far off in my guess.
It may have been used to cover earthen walls or seal a leaky roof?

What Indians used for Glue

I need to verify by heating it up to see if it softens or is flammable, but I suspect I'm on the right track.