Just A Rock or Maybe a Tool?

[ohlode]

Found this while Chuckar hunting in the desert. Sure resembles some kind of tool. Both ends appear to be worked to make a edge on one end and a beveled point on the other. Would make a great weapon or some type of tool. The small hole is odd as well. Fits the hand perfectly. About 8 1/2" long. Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Are you sure it's stone? It has the look of a piece of Bone and may have been an Awl.

 

[ohlode]

Thanks for your reply. I don't believe it's bone unless maybe fossilized? It weighs about 7.6 oz. If its stone it's a fairly light material. Here's a closer look at the end that appears to be blade like.

 

[catherine1]

I think your right about the rock thing. Thanks for the view/post!!

 

[tmodel]

does it have any signs of use on the small pointed end. these signs of use could look it had been ground or polished on the tip. Terry

 

[DarkwaterDiver]

I'm with Reaper and think it's Bone.

 

[ohlode]

It is dark and somewhat smooth on the pointed end. Same but to a lesser degree on the "blade" end.

 

[scepter1]

Artifact or not - my guess, at 7.6 oz. , is that it is mineralized/fossilized bone.

Rich.

 

[ohlode]

Thanks for all the comments. Well appreciated. I'm a complete novice but I'd agree with maybe fossilized bone. If you look closely at the first photo there is a section along the top that is partially split or fractured (linearly) that looks like what bone might do. (as opposed to rock) As far as being an implement who knows. You could definitely use it as such now. I'm confident it's too heavy and too solid for non-fossilized or modern bone.

 

[quito]

Well, if it IS bone, it sure resembles a pressure flaking tool in my opinion.

Joel

 

[ohlode]

Thanks for your input, Joel. A friend and native american collector told me yesterday that he was certain it is fossilized bone. He said the shape suggests a hand tool; that both ends look to be shaped and worn.
Pretty close to my intial thought but I didn't suspect fossilized bone.
Here are two more shots on a different background.

 

[quito]

SEEMS a little long for a flaking tool, but i have/had a very similar one that is probably 5 inches long.

 

[RGINN]

Pretty cool. If you cut it you could tell for sure in the cross section if it was bone or not. 'Fits the hand perfectly' is not a qualification for being an artifact though, as any rock you pick up can fit your hand perfectly, but doesn't mean it was a tool, so don't fall into that trap. Did you find anything else in that area? Context of the area of the find helps a lot in ID. Regardless of all that, yeah buddy I would have picked it up and brought it home. Check that area again; could be an ancient camp site.

 

[ohlode]

Thanks for all the replies. Various points come from the area. I know of a stone axe head in this general area too.
Another local collector this weekend told me he thought it was a "root digger"...
It was something that caught my eye or I'd never have picked it up.

 

[tmodel]

8 and 1/2inch is plenty long enought for a root digging tool stone or bone looks good. Terry