Shell hammer?

[Flatwoods88]

I've seen examples online that look very similar but I'm not 100% sure.

 

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[rock]

Calling GB!

 

[Flatwoods88]

More pics

 

[GaRebel1861]

One of these Florida Boys will know I bet.

 

[Flatwoods88]

I'm in central florida close to tampa bay btw, I'm almost positive it is but never seen a shell artifact in person. Thanks for any help or opinions.

 

[GaRebel1861]

It looks good to me and is a heck of a nice find. I think your answer is coming. Good luck.

 

[GatorBoy]

Calling GB!

Haha.. Tom...where are you?
I think I know already but...can you post a photo of the lip section?

 

[Flatwoods88]

Yea give me about 15 minutes.

 

[GatorBoy]

Alright.. no problem ...what kind of context was it in?

 

[tomclark]

Without any more pics I would say it has the spires all bashed/ground down and the outer lip is definitely thickened/reduced. The columnella is shortened.
The hole in the side looks like a broken out hafting hole and the end does look much more worked/bashed, perhaps a suggestion of what had been a bevel. Due to the hafting hole and maybe the cracking of the outer lip it was discarded. what cha think!?! Looks like a very typical Tampa Bay lightning whelk hammer. It does not appear to have the hafting notch in the upper lip, but many do not especially the smaller ones, cause they've thickened the outer lip over and over as it wore away, might have had a notch when "1st Stage" and it gets to a point where the hafting notch makes little difference. Looks no brainer to me if found at sites I know of.
All that being said, if it was found in a mine or nowhere near a site..........as GB said "Context".

 

[GatorBoy]

What? You've never gone spelunking for artifacts?
I think you're probably right Tom.
But I have seen natural breaks in naturally worn whelk that over the course of time the spires are worn off along with the lip edge.

 

[Flatwoods88]

Here is some more pics, as for where it was found I can't say because it was picked up years ago just as a big shell that would look good in the flower bed. I didn't find it, just thought if it was an actual artifact it should be put in a safe place.

 

[GatorBoy]

Tom's been doing this longer than I have.. but personally I don't think I see an artifact.
I see an even amount of wear the entire length of the outer surface without any evidence "from the photo" of damage from a handle or impact.

 

[Red Earth]

Got a brother piece

 

[Red Earth]

Where was it found? Beach, forest, swamp? I found mine in Florida about 8 years ago.

 

[GatorBoy]

Where was it found? Beach, forest, swamp? I found mine in Florida about 8 years ago.

They break like that.

 

[Flatwoods88]

Thanks for the input fellas, I'm not very familiar with shell stuff, I haven't been collecting very long so I'm not sure if its natural wear or altered by man. GB the even wear is what makes me question it so much but the bit end looks like it was used and I can see how that lip could get fractured from use. Thanks again guys.

 

[tomclark]

Second one Adze. I can count on one hand the times I've seen a shell degrade naturally or roll around in the surf and create a straight edge on the bit end like that last one. Straight and wider, not a hammer. Both specimens appear to me to be particularly robust, though medium sized, individuals. For shell tools they sought out these more robust individuals, sometimes just saving them as we find many "blanks/preforms". The second one is quite robust, having a large "hump" on it's back. Check out pics of unworked, normal Busycon sinistrum/Lightning Whelk pics on Google. They reworked shell tools cause the lip where it meets the top part and the hafting hole get damaged from use. Same spots get to a point where they are discarded, because they are so easy to make. Need darker/better pic of last one's business end from same angle. Check your PM. I would be ashamed of myself if I was not correct, hahahahaa. What State? LOL



HIJACK!!
A link for GB I know he's following this thread boom! (about drilled shark's teeth weapons)
Shark Teeth Weapons Reveal Surprises: Photos : Discovery News

 

[GatorBoy]

Nice Tom!
Honestly ...you should see all the dredge material they use for dune construction and replenishment over here its loaded with ancient and robust specimens broken and worn just like that.. alot of it also comes from inland sources many feet below ground level.
JMO.

 

[centfladigger]

dude, that is a thick shell, like we have found on some archaic middens( that is where we find some of the foot long oyster shells also) , yes that had some use to it. Doesn't look like a normal toe hole in the side and it does look to have been used for something at one time. text me and tell me where you found it ( not to get your site,lol) nice save Adam