Is this a shaft abrader? ID??

[orion024]

Is this a shaft abrader used to straighten & sharpen arrowhead and shafts?

 

[Neanderthal]

No, looks like just a funky rock.

 

[orion024]

In picture #4 there is a triangle symbol on the left side, which could be the makers mark! There are slotted marks all over this rock. On the opposite side of the pointed end, the rock has indents from being used as a hammer and it also (pic #5)will stand upright on this end, due to this end being flatten out from excessive pounding. It also fits nicely in your hand a couple of ways. It was found on an old Indian trail, if that has anything to do with it. I was told by an expert at Western Artifacts that it was indeed a shaft abrader, he also said that he has seen a couple sell for $85.00 & $125.00. I just thought I would see what people on here thought of it! Thanks

 

[Tnmountains]

Orion I find a lot like that in the rivers. They always look like something but are natural. I still bring them home to make sure and post them.
HH
TnMtns

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Orion I find a lot like that in the rivers. They always look like something but are natural. I still bring them home to make sure and post them.
HH
TnMtns

I agree with TnM, I use to find those by the hundreds when I was in Missouri walking the streams and rivers point hunting......Just natural...

 

[quito]

Nothing about this rock jumps out at me and says artifact, let alone shaft abrader.

 

[orion024]

In pics #1 & #2 you can see the top of this rock, and the bottom also looks the same! Therefore the sides of this rock would look the same too, Right? BUT, you can clearly see the dark maroon gouges in it, this is not natural markings! If it were natural they would be the same color as the rock.

 

[unitas]

My vote is natural rock, Mother nature can make some strange looking ones.

 

[pickaway]

Rock

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

In pics #1 & #2 you can see the top of this rock, and the bottom also looks the same! Therefore the sides of this rock would look the same too, Right? BUT, you can clearly see the dark maroon gouges in it, this is not natural markings! If it were natural they would be the same color as the rock.

Picture 2, left side 1st groove, appears to be a fossil in it....

I found litterly hundreds and hundreds of these in the streams of Missouri, and many were different colors on different sides as the water and motion carved them, and stained them. The grooves are not smooth at all as shaft abrasers would be...Sorry, to me there is nothing about rock that says artifact.

 

[Neanderthal]

For future reference, here is a picture of some abrading stones. Sorry, the pic is crap and they are all broken, but they were all that was easily accessible to me at the time. They are made of an abrasive stone, generally sandstone. The top right image is a cross section to show you how they get worn. They were used to abrade / smooth platforms during the knapping process. Without abrading, you will usually wind up crushing the edge, or get premature flake detachment and hinges.

Abrading stones get confused for "shaft smoothers" all of the time, but there is a difference. Both have long, rounded furrows. Even though the abrading stone grooves are straight, they aren't always as consistent as a shaft smoothing tool. Look lengthways down the two of them and you'll see what I mean. If you have any knapping buddies, go check out their abrading stones & tools...it'll be worth your time.

 

[orion024]

Thank you for the shaft abrader pictures! It is made of sandstone! The pic #4 has a triangle carved in it, I thought that this could be a Indian artifact b/c the Lenape Indians used this symbol to represent the tribe! Oh well, I guess I keep on looking! Thanks again for your help. 8)

 

[larson1951]

here are some shaft abraders
the two on the left are for a large shaft like a lancelot or spear
the one with the smaller groove was probably for arrow shafts

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

here are some shaft abraders
the two on the left are for a large shaft like a lancelot or spar
the one with the smaller groove was probably for arrow shafts

Very nice Larson...

 

[orion024]

I was wondering what Indians used to sharpen arrowheads, could this be it? If I had to say so this is what it is because of the notched out grooves, not a shaft abrader!

 

[Neanderthal]

I was wondering what Indians used to sharpen arrowheads, could this be it? If I had to say so this is what it is because of the notched out grooves, not a shaft abrader!

They didn't sharpen arrowheads by grinding, they done it with pressure flaking.


Nice examples of shaft smoothers larson. Have you ever found a matched "set" of the bar type?

 

[orion024]

What kind of stones or rocks did they use to sharpen arrowhead?

 

[Neanderthal]

What kind of stones or rocks did they use to sharpen arrowhead?

Knapping video -

More knapping videos & Info - http://www.ehow.com/video_4413975_finish-stone-knife-flintknapping.html

Glossary of terms - http://www.arrowheads1.com/artifactinfo/glossary.htm

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

I was wondering what Indians used to sharpen arrowheads, could this be it? If I had to say so this is what it is because of the notched out grooves, not a shaft abrader!

Most points were sharpen by pressure flaking as shown by the video. If you look at the grove I told you earlier you can see a fossil, if it was ground in any way it would have been destroyed. .............. It is just a natural rock.

 

[orion024]

Thanks everybody for your help! I still believe it is some kind of artifact, whether it be cave-men or Indian! I really believe it is an Lenape Minsi Tribe artifact! If ya saw it in person, you'd know it was some kind of artifact, just because the population don't know what it is, doesn't mean it's not a artifact! Thanks for all the help and replies!