Plummet, maybe

[Harry Pristis]

I acquired this with a small number of excavated midden items, mostly animal remains, just typical stuff from a Central Florida midden.

This plummet, on the other hand, is unusual. The material is not native to Florida. There is a flash of a phenocryst in the shoulder (visible as a dark spot in photo B). That tells me it is not a sedimentary rock, and all native rock in Florida is sedimentary.

The piece appears to be unfinished. At least, there are still facets or flat places where the material was ground.

Any opinions on the authenticity of this plummet?

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[catherine1]

I would call that a small neck plummet. Great Post!

 

[tomclark]

Hi Harry,

Plummets made of non-native materials are found in Central Florida. Are you sure that one isn't soapstone? I live in Central FL, I have found many plummets and they are almost always completed or broken. I've never found one made of soapstone or any non-native material. That one looks kinda fresh you should look for file marks, especially around the neck. Many plummets look crudely made, though finished/complete/used. You'll have to tell by the tool marks and "freshness" of the work, or send to a South'ren authenticator.
Some stone plummets from Gulf Coast Central Florida, all PinCo.

 

[Edmundruffin]

I agree with tom, looks like soapstone, a picture of it after soaking in water would help to ID the material.

 

[Harry Pristis]

Thank you for the thoughtful replies.

I don't think the material is soapstone (talc). Soapstone has a hardness of 1 (fingernail vulnerable) while this material seems much harder. The phenocrysts argue agains soapstone. The object weighs 1.2 ounces.

I've made more images. Wetting with water made the phenocrysts stand out a bit better. They are the blackish inclusion under normal light. Otherwise, wetting the object did not seem to alter the appearance much.

Under my microscope, I cannot identify any particularly-suspicious tool marks. There are plenty of abraded facets and irregularities. Even with the abraded surface, the phenocrysts flash when the object is turned in hand -- that must have been the inducement to work this hard material.

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