I'm pretty sure this isn't a native American Indian artifact

[StoneHunter]

Hello,

Recently, while looking through the buckets of English flint I've collected from the shores of the Potomac river, I came across this piece. As a novice flint knapper, I recognized the pattern of flake removal to form a cutting or chopping edge. The patina of the worked area indicates this is not a recently worked piece of stone. Considering the time frame in which English merchant sailing ships were engaged in commerce with the colonies, I don't think it plausible that this artifact was the work of an American Indian? If I'm correct, then this neolithic artifact was collected in England to be used as ballast in a ship and eventually dropped in a river in the new world.

Ralph

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

DR.ÖTEK Metal Detector, Waterproof Gold Detector, Pinpoint & Terrain Modes, Professional Metal Detector - Grab it through Amazon!

[MAMucker]

The first batch of photos is of a handful of whole and busted ballast flint nodules that I picked up along the shoreline of Plymouth Bay this year. As for size, these are consistent with what I typically see. You can see that the material is all similar. It is also important to understand that flint is not a native material.





The second photo series is of a very recent low tide find. It’s a heavily patinated and sand polished gun flint made of the same flint as the ballast material.






The 3rd is also a gun flint found a few years ago further upland in the same Bay Area. It is also made of the same flint material minus the heavy patina. It has no use damage.





I believe this material was used by the colonists and settlers as needed.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Treasure of Victoria Peak - Grab it through Amazon!

[StoneHunter]

The first batch of photos is of a handful of whole and busted ballast flint nodules that I picked up along the shoreline of Plymouth Bay this year. As for size, these are consistent with what I typically see. You can see that the material is all similar. It is also important to understand that flint is not a native material.
View attachment 1887560
View attachment 1887562
View attachment 1887564
View attachment 1887565
View attachment 1887566
The second photo series is of a very recent low tide find. It’s a heavily patinated and sand polished gun flint made of the same flint as the ballast material.
View attachment 1887567
View attachment 1887568
View attachment 1887569
View attachment 1887570
View attachment 1887571

The 3rd is also a gun flint found a few years ago further upland in the same Bay Area. It is also made of the same flint material minus the heavy patina. It has no use damage.
View attachment 1887572
View attachment 1887573
View attachment 1887574
View attachment 1887575

I believe this material was used by the colonists and settlers as needed.

Better late than never! Life took a few unexpected turns for me thus the very late reply. Those are some really nice flints! I haven't found any myself although I would love to. I have loads of the small flint nodules I call "beans". Many thanks for your reply and apologies for the lateness of mine.

 

[CreekSide]

Better late than never! Life took a few unexpected turns for me thus the very late reply. Those are some really nice flints! I haven't found any myself although I would love to. I have loads of the small flint nodules I call "beans". Many thanks for your reply and apologies for the lateness of mine.

The ones I find look like odd scrapers

 

[Older The Better]

Here’s a French one from Kansas, has nothing to do with ballast stones but from my research, the d shape and honey color are early French.

 

[Lone Star]

Bottom line is that is an artifact. Those strikes wouldn't have randomly happed that way in a river or beach.