Rock or real?

[Older The Better]

Picked this up long long ago because it was a different looking rock, I actually threw it in my fish tank for a while thinking it was just an odd rock, but it continues to intrigue me. The more I learn about ground stone objects and find examples of grinding stones the more I suspect this may be native, I didn’t want to hijack a previous thread talking about rocks with holes so here it is, rock or real?

 

[Tdog]

Possible nutting stone. Some were used as hammers but I don't see any battering on the edges of your piece. However, those facial scars could be from grinding or sharpening an awl or other bone/stone tool.

 

[Kantuckkeean]

I'd have kept it too. The dimple looks like it could have held a bow drill and it could have been used as Tdog suggested. The primarily parallel scars on the one side could be natural but I doubt it.

Kindest regards,
Kantuck

 

[GB Paleo]

Agree with what the others have said....in addition the side without the hole looks like it might have signs of being used as a mano.

 

[arrow86]

Wonder if the dimple could be from a deposit eroding away , if that’s the case I would think natural

 

[Older The Better]

Wonder if the dimple could be from a deposit eroding away , if that’s the case I would think natural

I wonder that too but the rest of the stone doesn’t show any unusual spots, the little iron looking spot I think may be a bit of coral from being in a salt water tank and touching other coral encrusted rock. But other than that it shows nothing else that may erode out.

I thought maybe bow drill hole but I don’t know much about fire making artifacts, it does fit well in the hand. I’m encouraged I didn’t get a list of “it’s a rock” type comments, maybe it was a multi tool and did all of those things

 

[Calgarychef]

I wonder that too but the rest of the stone doesn’t show any unusual spots, the little iron looking spot I think may be a bit of coral from being in a salt water tank and touching other coral encrusted rock. But other than that it shows nothing else that may erode out.

I thought maybe bow drill hole but I don’t know much about fire making artifacts, it does fit well in the hand. I’m encouraged I didn’t get a list of “it’s a rock” type comments, maybe it was a multi tool and did all of those things

When I made a socket out of rock and used it for a bowdrill it got very shiny in the depression.

 

[Older The Better]

When I made a socket out of rock and used it for a bowdrill it got very shiny in the depression.

That’s interesting and something to keep in mind. Do you think that is universal or depends on material type?

 

[quito]

That’s interesting and something to keep in mind. Do you think that is universal or depends on material type?

I don’t think you would want friction on that end. Artifact materials I have seen show polish with use wear. Imho this piece looks natural. Holes in rocks occur naturally often for a variety of reasons.