help with Native American Stone tools

[UpstateSteve]

Greetings! I am trying to ascertain the origin, location, & possible era these stone tools are from. It is not know where they were collected from.
I also have a small stone with a drilled hole off center that looks like a plumb line weight. Although I can't imagine native Americans using this type of tool.
The other item I was told was for carrying hot coals for fire building. It appears to be made of either clay or a natural formation of stone.
Any hints are welcome for educating me or to point me in the right direction for more investigation/study.
I will be my intention to eventually place these for sale. What is the best venue for selling this type of collectable? I sell coins and stamps on ebay.
Sacmo52

 

[antmike915]

Hello and Welcome from Georgia, are these personal finds? If not you might want to find out if they are ancient or modern before you even attempt to sell them.

 

[sandchip]

I'd proceed with caution as well. The patina and series of scuffs are all eerily similar. The shapes of each of those grooved axes are all just a little off. Just my gut impression. Best of luck.

 

[UpstateSteve]

Hello and Welcome from Georgia, are these personal finds? If not you might want to find out if they are ancient or modern before you even attempt to sell them.

These were given to me by a friend who said his aunt and uncle trave.ed the states collecting in the 1950s-60s. He doesn’t know where they came from. As for the scuffs and such they have been in a box all stacked on each other.
That is all I know. I though I might get some ideas about the style these may resemble giving me some sort of starting point to pursue as to location, and time frame.
I get the feeling from the comments these may be fake?
Thanks!

 

[UpstateSteve]

Greetings Sandchip. Most all do seem to be made from the same stone. With the exception of one of the celts, and the hollow ember carrier. I believe the majority are granite. I have a geologist friend that can verify this. When you say the shapes are a little off, what do you mean? The shape, or color...?
Thanks!

 

[unclemac]

taken one at a time we would be less concerned but as a group...red flags! Having so many differing styles made from the same stone, with the same dings and no use wear at all makes me leary. As to where they come from, I have seen similar pieces from Alberta to Sinaloa...so no we cannot tell you.

 

[sandchip]

Some of the grooves of the grooves look like they were cut with a grinder, especially those in pictures 6-9, and 14, 15. I've never found a grooved axe in 33 years of looking, but I'd rather never find one, before I'd throw money down on those. I hope that I don't sound harsh, but I'd rather sound that way than see you get taken.

 

[UpstateSteve]

Some of the grooves of the grooves look like they were cut with a grinder, especially those in pictures 6-9, and 14, 15. I've never found a grooved axe in 33 years of looking, but I'd rather never find one, before I'd throw money down on those. I hope that I don't sound harsh, but I'd rather sound that way than see you get taken.

Greetings, thanks for your input. Not sure the type of grinder you refer to but I would thing a grinder would leave a telltale sign of marks suggesting either rotation or some sort of pattern.
Never working on stone with a grinder I can’t say though. Seems like a lot of work just to fool someone.
I checked out Hothem’s 6th edition on NA Indian Artifacts. There are several of the Archaic period fine and medium grained granite that are quite similar to some of the ones I have.
I will contact some of the local university’s here and speak to profs in the Native American studies to give them a look.
I appreciate your honest thoughts, they are helpful.
Steven

 

[The Grim Reaper]

I have quite a few Axes and have handled quite a few more and I'm just not feeling it with your pieces. Way to many red flags on all of them.

 

[Jeff H]

Yeah it's the scuff marks. I'd feel better about them if you had said the box had been bouncing around in the trunk of your friend's aunt and uncle's car that they have been driving around since the 1960's.