Need Help Identifying Hand Carved Stone (Native American?)

[Scooter2020]

Hello!
I'm new here and could really use some help identifying a carved rock I found on my property. The stone looks like a fish (perch) is carved on one side and maybe a coiled snake on the opposite side. There are tiny holes carved or drilled into the back fin of the fish and on it's belly. If I blow through the holes the air will travel exit through another hole. Last year I had an intern at University of Texas in Austin confirm that this piece was carved by hand, that there appeared to be scorch marks inside the holes...but was not able to give me much more information than that.

This piece is approx. 4" x 4" x 2 3/4" thick. I have attached photos to this message.
I live on Lake Travis in Point Venture Texas about 35 miles NW of Austin, TX.

I would love to learn more about this pieces history. If anyone has any ideas, thoughts or direction I would be extremely appreciative.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend and best forward!

-Scott Harris
[email protected]

 

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[Kray Gelder]

If the University already confirmed it as hand carved, my opinion that it's natural, will go unmentioned.

 

[A2coins]

Interesting for sure looks like it was hung from a string by the grooves on each side .Pretty cool find

 

[A2coins]

Welcome to tnet also .....Tommy

 

[GoDeep]

It does look like a fish and though it may be hand carved, it appears to be naturally formed, look close at this picture below, the unequal erosion and high spots in the channels, isn't consistent with hand carving imo. Since it was just an intern who claimed it was hand carved, i'd trust some of the experienced members on this board who have 40+ years collecting native american artifacts who will probably weight in shortly.


I think this may be a case of Pareidolia, the tendency for incorrect perception of an object such as seeing seeing faces or animals in inanimate objects or abstract patterns. Heres a famous example of a face on a hill on Mars:

 

[smokeythecat]

Look up 'Barite Rose', a mineral. My first thoughts are that it is a worn down example of one. The oval lines are classic with them.

 

[Digger RJ]

Nice!!! Congrats!!!

 

[islamoradamark]

Welcome from florida cool find

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

It is a weathered concretion, some people sell them as "fairy stones", natural made by nature.

Here are couple pictures of others.

 

[Wildcat1750]

Interesting find, even if it is naturally formed...