What could this be?

[titus2pj]

Our property is an oak and beech scrubby woods on a sand barren surrounded by fields. We often find unusual things in the woods. Today my dd found this little black ball, round as if having been rolled between the fingers, with marks and small lines like clay would look when rolled into a ball. It's rock like, but lighter than a rock. We don't want to try to crack it to see what it's made of, because we're wondering if it could be some kind of musket type ball. (Silly I know. It's probably a petrified wad of gum, right?)
Could old shot have been pottery? That's what this feels like.

[dneyedli@res1.mts.net]

Hard to tell by looking at the pics (too dark) but by reading your description, it sounds to me like a clay marble. They came in various colours and are a quite common find around old dumps, homesteads, etc.
I have a small jar full, and still enjoy picking them up. Brown seems to be the most common in my collection.
Dave.

[titus2pj]

Thankyou! My dd will be thrilled!

[Shiftlngsands]

I could not see the pic but anyways this will sound weird i am sure but i once read where pirates yes i said pirates would roll gems IE diamonds rubys and things like that in clay and roll the clay into balls the odds are really against this but its just food for thought.