piebald hammerstone

[bravowhiskey]

same stone different ends...



almost shaped like a war club, but probably coincidence. Question here. would it be a creek stone polished naturally or would they polish a favored tool? Hmmm...

anyway a closer view of the working end.



now what on Gods' blue earth would they have been hammering? the impact fractures seem peculiar. Any ideas?

HH

 

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[old digger]

Pretty little hammerstone! Most likely used in percussion flaking.

 

[sleepyny333]

Most hammer stones have divots and dimples on the ends, most hammer stones are not polished, yet we find a select amount that were used as idol stones, and personal identity stones as a multi purpose tool. Several of my studies include picture stones that were rubbed onto the faces, this had increased at sites that were under attack by other groups or natural disasters, ie. Younger-Dryas period. Most likely from viewing this stone the dimple marks were made from hammering a fossil or harder stone or metal on another stone. The piece is made of chalcedony, agate, if in fact this is an artifact it would of belonged to the second tier.

 

[joshuaream]

Very neat piece. It does look like it's seen some use as a hammerstone, or maybe an ancient knapper was going for bipolar reduction (spilt it in half) by setting it on an anvil stone and hitting it on top. The cobble would split into two halves, and be worked from there. It would have been a pretty lithic.


Also, check out gastroliths. They are stones swallowed by dinosaurs that are rounded and polished like that. If you are in an area where they are found, that might be it.


What? Idol stones?

Most hammer stones have divots and dimples on the ends, most hammer stones are not polished, yet we find a select amount that were used as idol stones, and personal identity stones as a multi purpose tool. Several of my studies include picture stones that were rubbed onto the faces, this had increased at sites that were under attack by other groups or natural disasters, ie. Younger-Dryas period. Most likely from viewing this stone the dimple marks were made from hammering a fossil or harder stone or metal on another stone. The piece is made of chalcedony, agate, if in fact this is an artifact it would of belonged to the second tier.

 

[bravowhiskey]

I had forgotten all abt this post. it got recycled apparently by sleepyny333. Welcome to the site.

Thanks for the comments all.

My thoughts are along joshuaeams' lines. Possibly a gastrolith, but I'm unsure if found in this area. ( you bet I will do some research on it soon, however) other than that a smoothly polished creek stone found and repurposed as a hammerstone by humans.


happy trails

 

[NCPeaches]

Also, check out gastroliths. They are stones swallowed by dinosaurs that are rounded and polished like that. If you are in an area where they are found, that might be it.

I'm glad you posted this comment ... now I've got to do dinosaur research for my area! Thanks joshuaream!