Get the Point

[kuger]

It takes a big man to apologize and I respect that,accept and return one to you.I have the same stance as you do,however,I grew up in these parts,spent my entire life around grinding rocks,they are so common here they are not even talked about.....I know what one is,those I posted are I promise you this with everything of my being.As I said I went back and too k more pictures,and was pissed last night I deleted them.............we are marking calves next week so I will go back down there again.Is there any angle or anything in particular I need to photo?I have collected artifacts my entire life and have a very impressive collection but by no means consider myself an expert,if you were to tell me a point wasnt the name I thought I was,I would not argue,there is a lot I dont know,thats what intrigues me.....I know a grinding rock when I see it though!

 

[Get-the-point]

Kugar the only issue i was having with that boulder was that the mortars had a atypical shape to most known mortars. Now I appreciate a lifetime of collecting and respect that as well. I remember as a kid and the reason i started was seeing this guy walk the fields almost everyday. I asked him and he told me what he was doing and that is when i started. I grew up on the farm like you, just got away from it as i got older. I did see that post you made on your mortars and they are really nice. Hard to find them like that around here......As for the pictures of that piece if you want to get another shot of it then take a top down approach showing the opening and the bottom of the cup. It was the non-cylindrical holes that was not uniform with known examples.....I am letting this one go man!!!.........lol

 

[stefen]

There are at least 5 if not more grinding rocks within walking distance to my cabin in Idyllwild CA, of which many have holes that are not symetrical.

These are in granite outcrops on hillsides, and most are still within oak forests...

Two of the grinding rocks are adjacent to ancient hiroglyphic (sp) boulders.

Whose to say why some holes are perfectly round and others are elongated...Tribal culture, type of rock, ?

 

[kuger]

Yes,I see what your seeing and they are elongated.I have an explanation LOL!I have seen some incredibly huge pestles,some were to big to lift and drop repeatedly like we envision a woman doing,so I asked an elderly Indian woman that was doing a demo at a Pow wow one time about how they were used...She stated that some were rolled,(The pestles I was thinking of were tapered so I wasnt buying that)and some were actually "dragged",around the perimeter....if that would give an oval opening I dont know?I do recall seeing that sometimes though.I will keep that in mind and see if I can further prove,or dis-prove this phenomenon. In the mean time go take two tablespoons of Cayenne Pepper Powder,and chase it with water....do it,its not that hot,and will cure what ales you!!

 

[stefen]

The fact is, grinding rocks have been in existance for centuries...and shapes are what they are...why doesn't really need explanation...

As you may be aware, granite exfoliates (or decomposes, thus the term decomposed granite) over time due to surface conditions, expecially ice forming in the holes...this alone would weaken the edges...and when struck by a pestle, the edge may chip or erode, and become ellitipcal...(thats my story and I'm sticking to it...)

 

[Tnmountains]

 

[Get-the-point]