Are these anything?

[C3plants]

My 9 year old son is learning about native Americans and has to do a project on them. He is doing it on a known local rock shelter and I figured while we were there we could dig around and possibly find something interesting. Could the item in the first picture possible be bone or pottery? I can easily scratch with my fingernail. Do you think that the final picture of the large round rock was used as a tool. It fits in the hand nicely and it seems the areas where my hand comes in contact with stone are smoother and worn. Any help would be appreciated!

 

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[CreekSide]

Sounds like a fun adventure for you and your son. The 1st one is just naturally formed. The round stone I would have brought home. Hard to say what it is. Maybe try washing it with water and a soft brush then let it dry so we can see it better. If it was used as a tool we will know.

 

[C3plants]

Sounds like a fun adventure for you and your son. The 1st one is just naturally formed. The round stone I would have brought home. Hard to say what it is. Maybe try washing it with water and a soft brush then let it dry so we can see it better. If it was used as a tool we will know.

Thanks. Curious...what clues would you be looking for after the stone is clean? Thanks again!

 

[CreekSide]

Should be a color change in the cortex and sometimes there will be pitting on the cortex. I’ve found stones that have discoloration from ancient people handling them. Could be natural or could have been used. It’s one of the hardest types of artifacts to identify from pictures.

 

[releventchair]

I need help with your pictures.
Some look like bone to me.( The inside of curvature area was what caught the eye.)
Bone that was fractured. to get marrow. Or to work some bone into something. Or both.
IF it's bone.

The discoloration on the stone I also can't tell anything of from the pics.It looks discolored though.
Is it oil from hands or hides , or heating to cook with?
Was it used to work or mash stuff?
Or not!

 

[C3plants]

I need help with your pictures.
Some look like bone to me.( The inside of curvature area was what caught the eye.)
Bone that was fractured. to get marrow. Or to work some bone into something. Or both.
IF it's bone.

The discoloration on the stone I also can't tell anything of from the pics.It looks discolored though.
Is it oil from hands or hides , or heating to cook with?
Was it used to work or mash stuff?
Or not!

I agree. The first 4 photos are of the same item. It's definitely not rock. It's very light weight. I can easily scratch with my nail. The curvature and the strange lines within makes me lean towards bone but I have no knowledge or experience with this stuff.

 

[dirstscratcher]

Since you found both in a rock shelter, I will suggest that the first is a fragment of deer bone radially fractured to obtain the marrow. The rock could only have gotten into the rock shelter by being carried there, and probably used to crack the bones as well as nuts. The staining on the rock is probably from much use with oils, blood, ash and dirt forming the patina. If the rock wasn't used for hammering other rocks, I wouldn't discount it as a tool because it doesn't have damage.

 

[Older The Better]

I agree the first one is definitely bone, I’ve got a site where I see that all the time some burnt some not. hard to say with a little fragment but could be deer. The stone kind of depends on the geology of the area, around here that would stick out like a sore thumb, I’d definitely be thinking it was something. Grinding stone, cannon ball, maybe.

 

[C3plants]

I agree the first one is definitely bone, I’ve got a site where I see that all the time some burnt some not. hard to say with a little fragment but could be deer. The stone kind of depends on the geology of the area, around here that would stick out like a sore thumb, I’d definitely be thinking it was something. Grinding stone, cannon ball, maybe.

Cannon ball!? Well I did find this musketball in the same spot.

 

[Older The Better]

I wouldn’t take too much stock in that idea just was throwing out other possibilities of how a rock would get that way, not saying it can’t be but im definitely not the person to ask about cannon balls. Might be worth exploring though.

 

[pickaway]

Hard to say about round rock i find so many round rocks that are smooth that arent artifacts,the ones that are artifacts and round ,in my case are pecked into shape, odd, being a known shelter who knows what couldve been put in there, glad to see some youngsters getting into the hobby, take the round piece to a artifact show local collector etc...