Columbia River area. Large heavy stone

[USNFLYR]

Quick question for experts. While canoeing I saw this stone near many other basaltic rocks. It appears to have some non natural indentations. It weighs 20-25 lbs. and very large. Sorry I do not have dimensions but at least 24 inches long 20 inches wide and 8 inches high. I left it on shore as it would be too heavy to use as an anchor.....but..... would this have been Native?

 

[Huzzah!]

Can non-experts weigh in?

Does not look native.

 

[USNFLYR]

Anyone responding makes you an expert compared to me. I appreciate the quick reply!

 

[Quartzite Keith]

I can't blow up the picture enough for a good look, so just a shot in the dark: The divot/depression in the top looks like what happens when a stone is used as an anvil for bipolar percussion. If some of those smaller round round rocks around it contain knapable material, you would get at it by placing one end in that depression then whacking the other end with one of those decent sized cobbles on either side of the big rock.

 

[unclemac]

looks like a canoe anchor in your pix. Am I seeing a band around it?

 

[USNFLYR]

No remaining material or band. Notches on sides and indent in middle. Looks worn or grooved between. Back side is smooth. If smaller and lighter I would say 100% relic....

Have you seen anchors this large and heavy?

 

[Fred250]

No reason to think they wouldn’t have figured out permanent moorings. A rope and something that floats, who knows.

 

[Tnmountains]

Just not enough definition to call it an artifact or an anchor in my opinion. My vote would be for natural.

 

[USNFLYR]

Hadn’t thought of that possibility. A "tie up" stone. Well. I guess I have to paddle downstream and possibly get a hernia dragging it back...

Will keep ya posted!

 

[antmike915]

Tough call, but my first impression is natural.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Looks natural to me, nothing in picture to suggest it was worked or evidence to say it is artifact.

 

[T.C.]

Canoe Anchor/Hide Stretcher...personal find

 

[CaptEsteban]

I worked on your pix & am going to say that it " may be " an artifact.

 

[USNFLYR]

Waited for the smoke to clear from the fires in the northwest and returned to collect the hammer stone. Very heavy. Definitely marks and punctures that are not natural. Thanks to all that recommended me to treat this as an artifact.


I cleaned up the stone. It definitely looks likes someone hammered on this stone...or used it to as an anchor or mooring stone or hammering stone.....