🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Strange iron object. What is it??

[Scubasteve70]

I dug this last weekend at a site near Lake Michigan. It’s about 6” long and made of iron. It reminds me of an oarlock from a rowboat though the shape is odd and I’ve never seen one made of iron. Any ideas on what it might be?

 

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[The Rebel]

Guessing the tabs were for supporting a pole of some sort.

 

[Scubasteve70]

Maybe part of a sailing ships’ rigging?

 

[villagenut]

Oarlock perhaps

 

[dozer dan]

Looks like a spindle from a wooden axle.