Indian Artifact? I dunno... (NEW PICTURE at the bottom)

[chukers]

Is there anyone able to help identify this item? it was found in the bank of a creek while hunting for arrow heads...

What kind of rock is it?

Any value in this kind of thing?

Chukers

 

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[chukers]

Re: Indian Artifact? I dunno...

I am resizing... hang on a minute...


there that is better...

 

[eclipsegt3]

Re: Indian Artifact? I dunno...

with the hole in it,, makes me think it could have been a fire starting rock ... you know rubbing a stick into dry tender real fast

 

[chukers]

Re: Indian Artifact? I dunno...

with the hole in it,, makes me think it could have been a fire starting rock ... you know rubbing a stick into dry tender real fast

yeah I was thinking that too but I am not much into the Indian artifact thing... but this is how it all starts... find that first coin/relic/bottle/Indian artifact...

Chukers

 

[eclipsegt3]

Re: Indian Artifact? I dunno...

with the hole in it,, makes me think it could have been a fire starting rock ... you know rubbing a stick into dry tender real fast

yeah I was thinking that too but I am not much into the Indian artifact thing... but this is how it all starts... find that first coin/relic/bottle/Indian artifact...

Chukers

Or maybe a unfinished Banner Stone, Like this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bannerstone

 

[chukers]

Re: Indian Artifact? I dunno...

with the hole in it,, makes me think it could have been a fire starting rock ... you know rubbing a stick into dry tender real fast

yeah I was thinking that too but I am not much into the Indian artifact thing... but this is how it all starts... find that first coin/relic/bottle/Indian artifact...

Chukers

oooh it could be that too... but its going to need a lot of work to get it there!

Chukers

Or maybe a unfinished Banner Stone, Like this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bannerstone

 

[traderoftreasures]

Re: Indian Artifact? I dunno...

It looks like a sedimentary rock that has had a smaller harder rock spinning in an eddy on top

 

[Twitch]

Re: Indian Artifact? I dunno...

It's called a cup or nut stone. They're artifacts. I don't know what it's worth.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Re: Indian Artifact? I dunno...

Nutting stone, used for cracking nuts......

 

[lamplighter36]

Re: Indian Artifact? I dunno...

Chuckers,
Seems this type of thing has been on the Tnet site before, and the jury is still out on the origin. Here is the link to another similar post:
http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php?topic=282375.0
I did some digging on the web for banner stones, which were used as atlatl counter weights. The atlatl was a arrow throwing device which was widely used by the Indians. Here is the link for this data:
http://66.195.173.140/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=1026
there is also another nice site which details "potholes" which are cored-out holes in rocks made by water and spiralling rocks:
http://www.sentex.net/~tcc/pothole.html

My thoughts are this (assuming the size is roughly the size of two closed fists or so): It seems pretty darn portable- so to speak, but heavy enough and flat enough to hold a fire starter bow and stick. It seems too heavy for a atlatl weight, unless it was unfinished- but then why would they core it first before trimming it to size? could be a pothole, but the pics I saw looked more smoothed. To me it sure looks like it had a purpose and was created by man. seems not random enough for natural work- but stranger things have happened. You may never know for sure, but if the river you found it in is not known for potholes and well known for NA hunting/settlements- then I would err to the funner possibility. Saw one on ebay for 16$ save your time and enjoy your conversation piece. Nice find!

 

[Neogeo]

Re: Indian Artifact? I dunno...

I am gonna go the other way......I say Geofact....There are so many different things in the stone here that leave roundish indentations.Fossils(urchins etc..)Minerals..like Marcacite ..They come out in round nodules,and other softer stones....That being said.I still would have brought it home...

 

[Neogeo]

Re: Indian Artifact? I dunno...

Is that rust in that last pic?If so def. a geofact.... I could post some nods. that I have found if ya like for comparison.

 

[mickey]

Re: Indian Artifact? I dunno...

looks like a geofact to me. wrong material for a nutting stone. if it were a nutting stone, there would probably be a similar indentation on the reverse. good hunting. brian

 

[Get-the-point]

Re: Indian Artifact? I dunno...

Is that rust in that last pic?If so def. a geofact.... I could post some nods. that I have found if ya like for comparison.

The stone is wrong for a Nutting stone. This stone is Shale and the type of stone you find fossils in. That was probably a fossil that fell out or a stone.................................GTP

 

[latrans]

Re: Indian Artifact? I dunno...

Geofact. The triangular shape is a natural fracture pattern for the rock and the indentation is from the erosion of a smaller softer inclusion or as another poster said erosion from water and harder material in an eddy. I've found a ton of rocks just like that one.

 

[Hutch in PA]

Re: Indian Artifact? I dunno...

Geo...I would possibly consider otherwise if it was found in a field, but that close to the water, it was erosion.

 

[chukers]

Re: Indian Artifact? I dunno...

Here is a picture for size reference.... if that helps any...


Chukers

 

[Jessmc]

Artifact for sure. Nutting stone, cupstones. Prices range but I haven't seen a private sale for a nutting stone for more than $100. If I had to guess you may get $20. Cool thing about these is that they are found in groups. Sometimes hundreds.
The actual use of these are in question. Grinder, nut opener/crusher, spear holdersfire starter, etc. There have been texts done to see how long they take to make.

 

[1320]

6 year old post....just saying...