Is this just a weird rock?

[Eyeswideopen731]

Looking for some information about this whatever it is. I found it in a heavily wooded area in West TN not far from the river. Anything helps of course thank you.

 

[lairmo]

looks pretty small to be a metate....

 

[Indian Steve]

It could be the very bottom of a clay pot. I have a couple like it that came out of trash pit that was full of broke pottery, bones, charcoal, and shell in a Native American Camp dated around 1100BC.

 

[NCPeaches]

Looks kind of like soapstone to me, is it slippery when it's wet, like soap? Maybe a small soapstone bowl.

 

[quito]

Hmmm. Almost looks like it has a bit of use wear or polish in it compared to the exterior and rim.
Possible mortar or paint cup or something?

 

[Eyeswideopen731]

No it is rather rough when wet

 

[Charl]

I lean toward quito's suggestion. It looks like the kind of small, shallow vessel often called a paint cup. Used for making pigment by mixing things like hematite and graphite with bear fat. Can you picture someone using it as a hand pallet to apply body paint? I can. Not sure of the material, and not sure of my guess either.

 

[jeffdt1966]

great pic …. I was able to enlarge it enough for a closer look . I,m going with personal paint cup for small batches … maby face/body or small project . I have a few of these and I believe the staining in the bowl comes from iron oxide that was used in mixing reddish shades … just my opinion of course .

nice find … gratz

 

[Nate in Ga]

Id guess shallow paint cup too, rim probably worn down more now than when it was in use..