Question on stone tools

[Erving]

I just started looking for artifacts, and have a question about hammer stones. I understand what they are used for, but is there any sure way to tell if you have found one? I've tried researching them, and from what I've read, and the photos I've seen, I can't see anything that says "If it has this, or looks like that" it is definately a hammer stone. Here are some photos of some finds from a small field I've been to. It has been searched for years by many, and from what I hear some nice artifacts have been found there. The first photo is of some flakes I've picked up trying to learn about, and recognise the different materials used in my area. The second and third are some stones I thought might be hammer stones, but don't know how to tell. I did find a small scraper in this field. Any info or help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

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[rls2040]

I understand exactly your problem, the best answer I have gotten and the method I use is does it have wear marks on it that would occur when hammering something,especially if the wear marks are on the end that also feels best in your hand.I have picked up several round stones that are virtually identical but only two have wear marks and both are flat on the bottom which seems to make them sit upright and easy to pick ou and ready to use without even looking at them. I will send a couple of pics shortly. Best Wishes, Carl

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[quito]

Well it's hard to just give a general description of a hammer stone, other than they usually show excessive obvious use wear that indicate tapping or pounding on one or more surfaces.

I have lots of them and they can be in just about any form. Yours look what one would expect. The bottom right one is different in that I would expect the wear to be more localized on the stone. That looks a little beat up all over.

 

[rls2040]

Here are pics of two that I currently am calling hammer stones,tried to show flat place on each but not sure if pics show it very well and that may really mean nothing, I also sent pics is two disc shaped stones that have wear marks all the way around the outer edge, been told they are flint nodules and probably used as a pecking stone.

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[monsterrack]

The best way I can tell you is to find a rock that fits your hand and hit it on cement about 50 times and look at the end and you will see the marks that contact makes and compare that to anything you find.

 

[quito]

The last stone or nodule pictured is a great example of use wear on a pecking or hammer stone.

 

[Erving]

I guess not all artifacts are no brainers, and experience and knowlege are the only way to know for sure what they are and what they were used for. I'd like to thank you all for your replies, and guess I will just have to keep drooling over your outstanding finds till I start finding some of my own to post.

 

[rock]

Well Ill show you some I find. I really hear "Hammer Stone" allot on the round ones. I truly believe somebody will say HS when it is round and dont know what else it might be. We dont know every use for the rocks just guesses at best. Now I have read they did use the raw cobbles as cooking stones. So this one might be a cooking stone, who really knows. The book said the rocks will looked cooked if they were used so I am guessing they changed colors IDK. Anyway this is my version to what the round ones could of been used for, rock

 

[buttongirl]

I have a great deal of artifacts, were i live was a site the Indians lived, so a few inches down- there is plenty of shards, arrowheads, & tools. the hammer stones that i have found have a carved spot on one side for your fingers to fit into, and the tip is chipped. these are very different tribes from what you have there, (southwest) - getting old going to bigger containers to put the pieces in. good luck! echofreez (buttongirl)