Items found along American River-ID Assistance

[mrsljwalker]

I love to rock hound along the river, and this year I located these two artifacts, each on a different day. This is my first attempt at posting on the site. If the photos attach correctly, you can see one item looks like it was used as a rudimentary mallet. I was not certain of it until I visited a museum at the Grand Canyon where they displayed a tool with almost the same configuration. I was able to see how a pliable stick was wrapped around a stone and either a ground out or worn divot all around the stone where the stick was wrapped. The other item looked to me like a sharpening stone, particularly because it appeared on the worn area to be shaded red, as though some type of iron tools may have been sharpened against it. I located a very similar type stone on an internet search, but that one had classified it as a stone lamp. Any thoughts or opinions? I would love to hear them.

 

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[mrsljwalker]

This is the "stone maul" displayed at the museum I saw at the Grand Canyon (Tusayan Ruins). I thought when I saw it the worn area where the branch encircled the stone looked very much like the item I found along the river.

 

[southfork]

Keep trying but those items are just rocks .

 

[rock]

Welcome to the site but I agree with southfork

 

[mrsljwalker]

Thanks, folks. I still don't think the wear is natural erosion, but you folks have been doing this much longer than I.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Mrsljwalker, welcome to the site. Unfortunately I have to agree with the others. Your grooved stone was formed by a softer stone eroding faster than that outer core and that is what caused your groove. A Grooved Axe or a Grooved Maul is very easy to ID by the pecking, grinding, and polishing used to create them.

Here are some pictures of a true Axe and some Mauls so you can see what to look for. I can't find the pics of my Grooved Mauls, but there is one in the last picture on the left hand side in the bottom row. It has a battered end where the blade should be from being used as a Maul.

 

[mrsljwalker]

Thank you everyone for sharing your experience and knowledge, I really appreciate the example photos as well.