Help to ID thick rectangular bronze- Decorative or utilitarian?

[PetesPockets55]

Rectangular bronze item with raised squares and mounting hole.
(Posted in "What is This" also and a burnishing tool came to mind for one person)

So I was at a monthly meeting last week and there was a demonstration given about metal detecting. The gentleman brought in a handful of artifacts he has found on a local Ft. Pierce Fl. beach (and up north). He asked the audience for help ID'ing one of them because he didn't have a clue. When I suggested posting it here because of the depth of the members knowledge, he said he didn't know anything about posting but agreed to let me.

So here goes:
Composition- Bronze
Weight- ? (No scale)
Markings- None that I noticed but there was a hole at one end (apparently for mounting to wood as the hole was tapered)

The size is approximate as we had no measuring device.
Width- +- 1.625 (1-5/8")
Length- +- 8.125 (8-1/8")
Thickness- +- .25 (1/4")
(Excluding the pointed part of the squares)
Max. Thick.- +- .50 (1/2")
Each individual square is approximately 7/16"

Some thoughts on it's purpose might be protective, dissipate heat(?), traction, "coersive persuader", "hard noogie" device , or
(The textured surface reminded me of the head of a meat tenderizing hammer!!)
I think it has a specific use (not purely decorative) because of the thickness.

At first I thought it might be to provide traction on ship stairs but there is only one mounting hole and no wear on the top of the points of the squares.

Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions.

 

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[vpnavy]

..: Moved from Metal Detecting over to Forum: What Is It? for more exposure :..​

 

[pepperj]

Is there a hole on the other end as well? Can't make it out because of the sand crust build up.

 

[Tony in SC]

Looks like a step plate ?

 

[PetesPockets55]

Is there a hole on the other end as well? Can't make it out because of the sand crust build up.

Hole is only in one end. It is most visible from the backside image.

Looks like a step plate ?

That's what I was thinking (if a step plate helps with traction on ship stairs) but..... There is only a single hole on one end and I didn't think one screw would suffice unless step plates are usually mortised (recessed) into the wood.

The single hole is tapered and I don't know how long ago that was a normal procedure. I was also thinking that if this piece hung vertically (up and down) as decoration, the single hole might suffice.

 

[Icewing]

That's a common pattern used on tractor clutch and brake pedal pads, as well as step skid plates.

 

[PetesPockets55]

That's a common pattern used on tractor clutch and brake pedal pads, as well as step skid plates.

Thanks.
Maybe it was set into or mortised into some sort of framework (metal or wood) for better traction on a stair or pedal?

 

[nsdq]

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