Stone Axe or Hatchet??? Need some help.

[Rich70]

I don't know anything about this except that it is stone, measures about 4"X5", weighs 2 lb 2 oz. Found in North MS farm field. The sharpened edge is beveled on both sides. The marks may be from a disk implement. It may be an axe, seems a little heavy to be a hatchet. I've viewed different sites but haven't seen anything that looks like this. Any idea as to age and value? I really appreciate any help you can give.

 

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[rock]

Might be a Hoe or a Guilford Ax. Pretty nice find either way. Welcome new member. HH, rock

 

[catherine1]

Nice ax! Looks worn or broken but that's OK!!!

 

[NC field hunter]

I have a guilford axe really similar. Yours is much larger.

 

[Rich70]

Thanks Rock, think I will enjoy this site. I read some on the Guilford Axe and it seems most are from the NC/VA area which makes me wonder how it found in MS. I have family in NC and it is 600-700 miles from here depending on the area, probably closer to 700. As kids, we use to find lots of arrowheads in our fields, wonder if their shapes are similar to the Guilford points? I think my brother has some that he found in this same field...will have to check them out.

 

[Rich70]

Catherine, I believe it took a beating in the field and most likely from the large, heavy disks they use to cut-up the soil.

 

[rock]

I saw a collection today and he had 2 of them found from my area. I think every place had them just called them a different name. Look under axes in your states I.D. site and see if they are there but under a different name. I would treasure it if I could find one. Im in GA.

 

[monsterrack]

I go along with Rock, it is a great find and you sure don't find them in this part of Ms.

 

[Rich70]

Rock, I'll check to see if they are called something else in MS. Since I am new to this terminology, what do you mean by my "states I.D. site"? Is it named something like MS archeology? I will search and see what I can find. Pictures of similar items do not look to have sharp honed edges. This one has a fine cutting edge, that is the part that is intact. I have seen some of these called chipped axes and that might be what they are called in MS.

 

[rock]

Yeah every state has a I.D. for NA Indian Artifacts. When you find the proper name for your area Id be interested in knowing what it is called. HH, rock

 

[Rich70]

Monsterrack, I don't know if you are familiar with the layout of the counties in MS but I live in Oxford and this was found about 60 miles south of here, in north Webster County very less than a half mile from the SE corner of Chickasaw County. While searching for the indians that had that land I found it was hard to determine which tribe lived there, it is very close to the boundary between the Chickasaw and Choctaw tribes.

 

[monsterrack]

Monsterrack, I don't know if you are familiar with the layout of the counties in MS but I live in Oxford and this was found about 60 miles south of here, in north Webster County very less than a half mile from the SE corner of Chickasaw County. While searching for the indians that had that land I found it was hard to determine which tribe lived there, it is very close to the boundary between the Chickasaw and Choctaw tribes.

Would it be safe to say you are a Ole Miss fan.

More than likely your axe was from a time before those tribes, try these sites(www.msachaeology.org) or(www.mdah.state.ms.us) go to site map and look around. They have all types of books, PM me if you like. I do a little hunting for artifacts and fossils in that area when I can get up that wayHappy Hunting

 

[Rich70]

Monsterrack, yes I'm an Ole Miss fan and next to them, MSU. My brother went to State and I to Ole Miss. Always supported the dawgs when they were not playing the Rebs.
I would like to get together with you sometime. I briefly looked at these sites and will do more when I have more time.

 

[Rich70]

Rock,
I've contacted a archeology professor at MS State Univ about the axe and she said it is called "fully-grooved axe" because it is grooved completely around the axe for hafting purposes and is sandstone. Dates to the Archaic period. She said the difference in this and the Guilford axe is the Guilford edge is flaked including the bit, where this one's bit is flaked, then ground and polished to a sharper and more durable edge. She explained the date processes but none will work on this stone. She said this one is an excellent specimen even with the chipped/broken areas.
I don't know if these comments will show up for others that have commented, if so will someone let me know because you took time to comment and I want you to know what've found out about the axe...your comments put me on the road to finding the answers. Thanks to all. Richard

 

[painterx7]

Those marks look to b from no till planters very nice find

 

[Rich70]

It was found at the edge of a field and sure some type implement cut it, we thought maybe a heavy disk. Thanks for your comment. Richard

 

[rock]

Thats great info on it. Thanks for letting us know. I know she said Sandstone but it looks like Quartzite to me I dont know how hard your Sandstone is there but ours is a softer type stone. But either way it is still a nice ax. HH, rock

 

[Rich70]

I thought the same thing but maybe the age makes it more harder, don't know. She has quite a collection of sandstone items that she has found in MS (according to another professor that asked me to contact her). Our sandstone is quite soft too. I looked at it with a powerful magnifier, into the cut grooves that exposes a liitle deeper into the stone and it and the surface looks like sand is in the mix. I wonder if I searched on sandstone composition I could learn more. BTW, did you watch the Ole Miss/Vandy game last night? A thrilling last 2 minutes and I loved it!

 

[rock]

Im sure sandstone isnt the same in every state. Do you have quartzite or some call it sugar quartz? Sugar quartz is a grainy type of quartz but is hard. I have found a cool almost finished quartz type of tool before. Not many made out of it around here but its not quartz but a quartzite I do believe.

 

[Rich70]

I've never seen sandstone like this around here. It is usually a dark gray color and not very hard. Many old homes were built using these stacked as pillars for the foundation and I often wondered what kept them from crumbling under the weight. That is a nice item in the picture.