Rock Artifact

[Appalachian Woodsman]

Found this rock sitting in a log home slated for demolition. Built in 1750s. Other native artifacts have been discovered here before.

Forgot scale. But its as long as a cigarette lighter. And 3/4 as tall as a lighter.

Super smooth, shiny and flat on the bottom.
Fits beautifully in your left hand.
Staining on the edge of the smooth bottom.
Etches on the top grip at front.
Etches on the rear bottom.

What might this have been used for and by whom?

 

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[dognose]

No idea, What is the material? Is this sandstone?

Labelling this as a native American artifact is subjective at best. Since this is not a flaked, pecked or hammered stone relic, to say this was a relic may not be correct.

There has been debate for years that simply due a stone fitting in your hand does not indicate the stone is a native American relic. Sandstone is easily marked.

I think this has a low probability of being a native American artifact.

While attending Catholic grade school in the early 60, we children would bring discarded sandstone bricks from the building of the church and school from the nearby woods and grind into them designs during the recess. 100 years later, finding these in the woods by the buildings may lead one to wrongly associate these also, believe they are artifacts

 

[ToddsPoint]

That polished flat surface can't be natural. It's too flat and polished too well. I have no idea what it is. Gary

 

[sandchip]

Slick and interesting. I don't know what it may have been originally or the reason for the marks , but it was kept for some reason, maybe to keep an edge on a pocketknife? Especially if it sits well in the left hand. Also that slight dip in the top in the fifth picture. The small size and overall sheen make me think of it being carried in a man's pants pocket. Daddy had a broken whetstone that he carried, measuring about 3/8 x 2 x 2, just to hit that edge once in a while.

 

[Appalachian Woodsman]

I was thinking a whetstone too. The contributor that suggested not calling it native artifacts, I agree and did intend to imply it is. I should have used less suggestive verbage. Native artifacts are found at this site but this tool being found IN the home made me wonder if it was used by early pioneers instead.

 

[jamey]

i have seen things they call nutting stones with smooth backs.i think they used them to smooth those big blades with