hardstone and wazzits

bsit1361 · Jun 6, 2011

Help! Got a couple things I need help with. First is a pretty thick peice that is too big for a knife. I was thinking maybe adze? Next seems to be a celt that at 1 point was very well made but ended its life as a hammerstone. The bit has been totally flattened. Next there is a completely pecked piece that has finger groove on 1 side and on the top is 3 indentations rubbed smooth. Very shallow to somewhat of a dip. No idea what to call it. All the indentations on it are too small for nutting stone. Then I think the next 1 is probably just a rock with a hole in it but it came from a known site so it came home with me. Finally is this peice of what I think is sandstone that is odd shaped with grooves all around it. Even where it looks broke there is faint grooves.

? No idea. Any help is appreciated.

ohioaxeman · Jun 6, 2011

bottom piece may be some kind of abrader!

bsit1361 · Jun 7, 2011

Was thinkin that or maybe even wieght with grooves to hold the rope.?.

jaron3 · Jun 7, 2011

Bottom pics look like a foot. Ha ha. Neat finds. Thanks for sharing. Sorry I couldn't offer some help.

TretinIowa · Jun 7, 2011

Very interesting pieces thanks for sharing the pics.

bsit1361 · Jun 7, 2011

Thanks for the view. Really wish I could get an idea on that pecked staone with the smooth indentations on top.

Get-the-point · Jun 7, 2011

It is a Pestle. Looks like you have two. Both are standard pestle for (Mortars)bowls that is why the pecked end with the smooth polishing. Not sure about that one though it is still a little rough and looks like it could have been a preform to a celt. Not sure though as it is a toss up. My Gut is telling me it is a worn out pestle but it could have been a celt preform... ..............................GTP

bsit1361 · Jun 8, 2011

The 1st one doesnt have any markings or smooth spots on the ends that would go along with pestle. Looks pecked like the rest. The only smoother down spots are the 3 little dips on the top of the tool. No idea.

Get-the-point · Jun 8, 2011

bsit1361 said:
The 1st one doesnt have any markings or smooth spots on the ends that would go along with pestle. Looks pecked like the rest. The only smoother down spots are the 3 little dips on the top of the tool. No idea.

Mortar style pestles will show pecking at the tip from breaking down a item. The constant rubbing against bowl side and edge will smooth down the sides of pestle sometimes in certain spots. I often wonder if they used several different pestles while mashing down herbs, nuts and other stuff they may have eaten. Kind of like sanding wood with different grain sandpaper. Starting with a course piece and working down to a finer grit!! Makes me wonder if the polished pestle tip was the fine tuning tool part of the breakdown process.............just my logical explanation of it. I have found pestles that looked exactly like those two..................................GTP