Puebloan stone tool or toy??

[8_Way_Santa]

3 in. long x 1 in. wide x 3 mm. thick

I found this while walking on a mesa in McKinley County, New Mexico near the village of Ramah. This was lying on the surface in an area with several overgrown ruins; the area around these ruins are full of pottery shards, stone flakes or cast-offs, and the occasional point.

Several inquires have produced guesses that this is either either a tool or a toy; one person identified it as pipestone. I suspect one of these guesses regarding the purpose of the object is correct. I would absolutely love to know more - if this is a tool, what kind? IS this pipestone? Was this used as a toy?

I've done little research online to look for similar objects. The pooching around I HAVE done brought me to this forum.

Thanks - I look forward to hearing more!

 

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[Treasure_Hunter]

Moved to our American Indian Forum.

Welcome to TreasureNet, nice find.

 

[Tdog]

I've seen many atlatl weights that look similar. Yes, it does look like pipestone (catlinite). Welcome.

 

[8_Way_Santa]

I've seen many atlatl weights that look similar. Yes, it does look like pipestone (catlinite). Welcome.

Thanks for the reply - and the welcome, too!

You've given me something to search-up online....

Until then, what would be the purpose of the groove on each side of the lithic?

 

[Tdog]

what would be the purpose of the groove on each side of the lithic?

To assist in securing it to the atlatl. They were tied on.

 

[8_Way_Santa]

To assist in securing it to the atlatl. They were tied on.

Thanks for your help, Tdog.

 

[Older The Better]

I agree pipstone... could be a plummet

 

[8_Way_Santa]

Thanks for your insight Older the Better, too!

The guy who told me this was pipestone also told me something about the properties of it. He said that under the correct conditions, broken pieces of pipestone (perhaps just this type?) will fuse back together in a very short time - like a year or so. What can you, Tdog or anyone else say about this? This was the same fella who said my lithic was a toy.

 

[Buckleberry]

Looks unfinished.
Great piece!

 

[Tdog]

What can you, Tdog or anyone else say about this?

That's about it for me. I'm just going on what I've learned from these online archaeology message boards for the past 14-15 years. That material does not occur in my area.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

I've seen a few red Pendants from New Mexico posted by a man on Facbook though I can't recall what he calls the material. Not sure it's Catlinite. That looks like a Grooved Pendant to me.

 

[Older The Better]

What’s the difference between a grooved pendant and a plummet? Maybe I’ve got my terminology mixed up

 

[joshuaream]

I think Steve is correct, it might not be catlinite. If fact if it is catlinite, it's probably not prehistoric. (Catlinite was traded around in prehistoric times, but usually in the Mississippi and Great Lakes drainages.)

I'd call it a grooved pendant. Whether it was actually a pendant worn around the neck, or was ceremonial, or a specialized too for some purpose (smoothing pottery, or a gauge for weaving, etc.) we may never know, but there are a lot of grooved pendants found on ancient Puebloan sites. (The Mogollon/Casas Grandes people in Northern Mexico made lots of them.)

 

[8_Way_Santa]

Thanks to all involved for the information. I really do appreciate it!

I still hope to hear if anyone on this forum knows about the pipestone, specifically if the information I was told about it being "self-healing" so to speak. This lithic may or may not be pipestone according to some; still, I would love to know if this is capable of fusing itself back together.

Grim Reaper, a pendant came to my mind when I found it, too. I cannot say though - my experience/expertise is nil.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

What’s the difference between a grooved pendant and a plummet? Maybe I’ve got my terminology mixed up

I can't recall ever seeing a Plummet from New Mexico. I've seen lots of Pendants, both drilled and grooved, but no Plummets. Plummets are more spherical in shape instead of flat. I've found quite a few Plummets and though I have a couple with flat faces on them they are still more spherical in shape.

 

[PaleIO]

Welcome from NE New Mexico! Very cool find. I have never personally found anything like that in the state but have seen examples from other people's collections. I was told that items like this were pottery tools used to smooth and shape. The one thing different on yours is the groove around it. Just my 2 cents....looking forward to input from others on pipestone.

 

[8_Way_Santa]

Welcome from NE New Mexico!

Thanks! We miss our time in New Mexico. Hope to be back in Ramah for about 5 weeks in the autumn.

I liked the suggestion of the atlatl weight but all the ones I saw online seemed to show either one center groove or two grooves. To thicken the mystery, I've been given a few more suggestions on the forum as to its use.

My thanks again to all for the warm welcome on this forum. Also, more thanks for all of the suggestions and information - keep 'em coming!

 

[PaleIO]

Thanks! We miss our time in New Mexico. Hope to be back in Ramah for about 5 weeks in the autumn.

I liked the suggestion of the atlatl weight but all the ones I saw online seemed to show either one center groove or two grooves. To thicken the mystery, I've been given a few more suggestions on the forum as to its use.

My thanks again to all for the warm welcome on this forum. Also, more thanks for all of the suggestions and information - keep 'em coming!

We used to play Ramah in 6 man football back in high school....the good ol' days!

 

[WG2020]

Grim Reaper, hope all is well on your end. I sent you a private message a little back and wonder if you saw it. Good luck with your hunts. Walt

 

[Older The Better]

I can't recall ever seeing a Plummet from New Mexico. I've seen lots of Pendants, both drilled and grooved, but no Plummets. Plummets are more spherical in shape instead of flat. I've found quite a few Plummets and though I have a couple with flat faces on them they are still more spherical in shape.

Thanks, I’ve got a pretty good handle on chipped stone because that’s what I find, still green on the other stuff

As for self healing stone that sounds fishy to me, never ran across that in my geology classes but there’s a lot I don’t know... like the difference between a plummet and a grooved pendant.