Tool or rock? ...and pottery!

[FriscoT06]

What do you guys think? Found at a spot in a creek I regularly find pottery and points at. The pottery has a cross hatched pattern on the outside, and has sand/fine stone temper in it. I'm sure from all the other pottery and points I've found that the pottery is Native American, but have no idea on the 'tool'. Any thoughts welcome, thanks!

 

[NCPeaches]

I could be wrong but I think the stone is not a tool but the shard is awesome. The reason I think it's not a tool is because I find this same type of stone in my creek. Does it sound sort of like glass when it hits another rock? This stone always makes me mad when I find it because at first it always looks like a pottery shard at first glance and makes me waste my time picking it up and looking at it. I don't know what type of stone it is but I do know it aggravates me no end when they show up lol

 

[Red James Cash]

On the stone in the third picture down,did you notice the scratch in the stone following the outside edge of it.

 

[Red James Cash]

Is the black burn marks?Early pottery was fired on coals,maybe the pottery pieces sat on the stones.

 

[FriscoT06]

On the stone in the third picture down,did you notice the scratch in the stone following the outside edge of it.

I did notice! I was wondering if the stone could have been ground into shape from there. There is a similar circumferential scratch on the 'blade edge' pic, perhaps from being used? No burn marks, it appears to transition to a harder type of stone on that side. The black side also appears to have a wear groove in the center about 1 cm wide but very shallow. I am still not sure if it is a tool or to write it off as a rock yet though... But thanks for the input guys!

 

[FriscoT06]

If it is a tool, maybe it's for wood working? It was D.E.A.P.'s discovery here that inspired me to post my rock to find out- http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/my-best-finds/473738-2-000-yr-old.html#post4653132

 

[Red James Cash]

Hell,keep looking.I would.

 

[NCPeaches]

If you have some Iron Out (you can find it in the laundry section of the grocery store) mix up about a tablespoon in a cup of warm water and put the stone in it. After the rust stain is gone those lines will probably be white ridges found on that type of stone. The ridge or curve is the way the stone forms and the stone almost always has a curve and is why it fools me. I'm fairly certain it's not a tool. DON'T put the pottery in the Iron Out solution!!!

Now, since you've found a pottery shard you will more than likely find more and if you're lucky you will find some projectile points. At least that's how it's rolled for me for about 2 1/2 yrs and now I have about 300 shards and 15 points/knives/scrapers. Good luck on your searches!

 

[FriscoT06]

I do buy iron out! I usually use it to clean rust stains from old bottles- I will have to buy more and try that trick you mentioned. Thanks!

I do think it is a village site, I've recently found a few dozen shards and a handful of points. All will be posted later this week as a group when I have time after I explore the creek again. But 300- man!!!

 

[GatorBoy]

The orange piece looks like what's left of a water worn brick

 

[NCPeaches]

The orange piece looks like what's left of a water worn brick

Pretty sure the orange is rust.

 

[FriscoT06]

Not brick, definitely stone, but I think it's just orange. Could be rust maybe, but usually the rust stains on objects in my creek are not uniform, but we shall see after I go to Home Depot this weekend.

 

[NCPeaches]

I do buy iron out! I usually use it to clean rust stains from old bottles- I will have to buy more and try that trick you mentioned. Thanks!

I do think it is a village site, I've recently found a few dozen shards and a handful of points. All will be posted later this week as a group when I have time after I explore the creek again. But 300- man!!!

Can't wait to see your other finds. I'm a creek hunter myself and have never found anything on dry land but hoping to someday. Good luck!