Carved rectangular stone artifact - Colonial? Shipwreck? Native American?

[Urban Digger]

I found this small stone object last summer on the shore of an uninhabited island in the Chesapeake Bay. Not sure how old it is, or what it is. It looks like a smushed rectangle. Sedimentary rock. Could it be a random artifact from a shipwreck, or possibly something Colonial or Native American? Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Family Maps of Hinds County, Mississippi, Deluxe Edition - Grab it through Amazon!

[smokeythecat]

First thought is imported ships' ballast. Do you know what it is made of? What stone?

 

[Urban Digger]

That's a great thought. I've been looking up rock types, and would say that it looks similar to slate or mudstone. Not sure if that is native to Charles County MD where it was found. I always assumed ballast stones were large. Were they also small like this?

 

[bradyboy]

sorry
IMO this post doesn't work for me - IMO
cubed ballast stones? - I don't think so
Please correct me if I'm wrong
sort of looks like sand stone
Brady

 

[bradyboy]

is it square? dimensions?

 

[A2coins]

That is funny cubed ballast stones. They stacked better lol

 

[A2coins]

It is layered I would say just a rock naturally formed in that shape. lol

 

[fyrffytr1]

Going by the OPs picture it is little larger than a penny so I don't think it is a ballast stone. Maybe a scale weight?