Help identifying...possible moqui ball?

[Lisa321]

I was looking for fossils in the Sawmill Branch Creek in Summerville that is known for fossilized shark's teeth and other fossils. I found this sticking out partially from the fossil layer at the bottom of the creek. It is a perfect sphere. Can someone help me figure out what it is? Thank you!

 

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[surf]

Hello Lisa,

Welcome to the TNet, and thanks for showing us your sphere. I was gonna ask you about this Moqui, as I had heard the name before. After a bit of googlng, All I see is Utah as far as what some call Moqui balls. I'm assuming the "Sawmill Branch Creek in Summerville" is the one in South Carolina, and nowhere close to Moab.

Please tell us more, on the dimensions, heft, what other artifacts are found in the vicinity, what material you think it might be, all that good show & tell stuff

Utah Navajo Sandstone Formations- ?Moqui balls,? ?Moki marbles,? ?shaman stones? or ?thunderballs? | RockHoundBlog

 

[Lisa321]

The sphere is very close to an inch in diameter (maybe a tiny bit bigger) and is pretty heavy. It definitely feels solid. I have no idea what type of material it could be, that's why I posted the first pic that shows the small craters in it. I thought that might help someone identify what it is made of. The Sawmill Branch Creek is in Summerville, SC and I have found mostly shark's teeth, but I have heard of people finding arrowheads there too. Actually I found something there that I think may be a bird point, but I'm not sure. I'll post that too, if anyone has an idea about it Someone I know thought the sphere may be a moqui ball but I looked it up and saw that they weren't found nearby either and they don't look like this one at all (the markings anyway). Thanks for the help! I am new at this and am finally able to identify the shark's teeth I find, but when it comes to this other stuff, I don't have a clue. It is very interesting though. Here is a pic of the possible bird point that I found. Thanks again for the help!

 

[AU Seeker]

I believe what you may have is a clay marble.

Akron History

 

[unclemac]

or MAYBE perhaps a very worn brown bennington.....

Benningtons

 

[Breezie]

I agree with AU; it looks like a clay marble. Neat find Breezie

 

[yelnif]

Hello Lisa321, assuming that you have checked to see if it is magnetic, and it wasn't then I agree with AU Seeker, and Breezie-clay marble and a nice on to boot, congrats. But on your "bird point" I don't think that's what it is. The 'cutting' edges look too smooth and no evidence of knapping. I think it might be a tooth, not shark but a tooth. Second pic looks like tooth enamel Or possibly something that is now petrified.

 

[Lisa321]

I looked at the article about the clay marbles and another one on benningtons and that does look like what it is; thank you so much! Do you think that it could be handmade or do you think it's manufactured? Oh, I did check to make sure it's not magnetic and it isn't. Yelnif, so you think the other find is a tooth? What kind of tooth do you think it could be? When I first saw it, I thought it was a piece of jewelry or something. Then I just assumed it was a bird point because of the Indian artifacts that have been found there. It's really smooth and shiny, and the way it looks on that one side (in the second picture), I can't imagine what would make it look like that. Strange. Thank you all so much for your help!

 

[yelnif]

All of the worked flint I have seen shows signs of flaking- making the stone thinner and sharpening the cutting edges to make it a useful point/ scraper or knife. Your offering does not show any signs of it being a bird point. The reason I thought it might be a tooth was because of the polished look (tooth enamel) and the darkened projection would have been the jaw attachment. It was just a guess.

You might take it to a local college/ university - maybe anthropology or biology dept.- They may be able to ID it for you if you don't happen to get the answer here. HH

yelnif

 

[Lisa321]

Thank you for the help. I was just going by the shape of it when I guessed bird point. That would be really neat if it's a tooth. I'll try to have it checked out and post what I find out. Thanks again for help!

 

[Ammietuar]

The "birdpoint" is a scale from a Gar - its a long lived, freshwater, prehistoric looking, presently living fish. They can live 100+ years and get 7+ feet long. I don't know of any proof, but I have heard that these scales were used/could be used as arrow points. I know from personal experience that they are very sharp. As for the rock, I would say that it is either a geode or a small concretion. It is hard to tell. Cut it open and find out!

 

[AU Seeker]

Ammietuar,

Fantastic ID on the "bridpoint"!!!

Louisiana Wetland Treasures! | Bayou Woman

Lisa the scale you have I believe is fossilized.

http://www.fossil-treasures-of-florida.com/garfish.html

 

[yelnif]

Great ID Ammietuar- I concur on the gar fish scale especially with AU Seekers photo's. good going guys. HH

 

[treasure search]

I think round object a stone crockery marble that has become rusty over many years in wet conditions absorbing rusty stain into the stone. It has some dings ,lucky not to have broken into half.