water worn rocks

[vibes]

This topic might have been covered before, I am new and haven't seen it posted so here goes:

I live in Northern Indiana and spend most of my summer weekends at a beach on lake Michigan. I see many people post photos of what they believe to be an artifact to discover many reply that it's a geofact, nature made/formed. Ok, but... what if a stone tool made it's way down from Lake Superior to SW Michigan...wouldn't the tumbling action have an effect on a axe (just using it as an example) and smooth out some or most of the man made marks?

I appreciate any all all insights and corrections...Much thanks!

 

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[pronghorn]

This topic might have been covered before, I am new and haven't seen it posted so here goes:

I live in Northern Indiana and spend most of my summer weekends at a beach on lake Michigan. I see many people post photos of what they believe to be an artifact to discover many reply that it's a geofact, nature made/formed. Ok, but... what if a stone tool made it's way down from Lake Superior to SW Michigan...wouldn't the tumbling action have an effect on a axe (just using it as an example) and smooth out some or most of the man made marks?

I appreciate any all all insights and corrections...Much thanks!

Just curious, how could a stone tool make it's way down from Lake Superior to SW Michigan without being carried by a human? A rock the size of an axe might move around a bit in high waves but wouldn't it eventually settle and began to sink close
to where it was first deposited? Or am I missing something here?

 

[vibes]

Ok, I am new to this and was just wondering. Sorry if my post was considred 'silly.'

 

[Airborne80]

Ok, I am new to this and was just wondering. Sorry if my post was considred 'silly.'

No worries at all. The only stupid question is the one not asked. welcome to the site and ask away.

 

[GL]

I have a point that is as smooth as it could be.

Still looks like a point though. I would think if it was in an especially rough area of a river rapid on the bottom of a pool being scrubbed against other stones for instance it would eventually reduce to nothing special.

Then again I'm no expert.

 

[MEinWV]

I am sure water wear could occur in the right conditions, or in the type of material used. Flint is among the harder stones in nature and would take allot of abuse from the elements in order to show the amount of wear that would cause it to be difficult to identify.

I have seen Paleo points from Maine that had apparently laid exposed and undisturbed for "who knows how long" on a windswept ridge and the surface that was exposed to the wind was noticeably "sandblasted", while the other side was as fresh as the day it was made. Of course, at that time, Maine had a tundra type landscape that stayed that way for thousands of years.

Those lakes get rough and I suppose there would be a certain amount of tumbling action along the shores, but I don't think anything is moving any great distance.

Good question!

Welcome! HH

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Even if an actual artifact like an Axe or Arrowhead is polished very highly by wave action or by wind blown sand they still retain their overall shape and still look just like an artifact. I have seen points that a buddy of mine found along the shores on Florida and other beaches along the east coast that have been very highly polished by the pounding surf, but you still tell that they were once nice arrowheads. Most of the small flake scars are completely gone off of them. but the bigger flakes are still very evident.

Now some people do find natural rocks that have over time been polished and shaped to look like an artifact, but if look closely at them you will see evidence of ever being worked into that shape other than by Mother Nature herself.

 

[GL]

Better picture of my smoothie.

 

[WhiteCountyPaleo]

No matter what you do don't get rid of it. I've looked/glanced at millions upon millions of smooth rocks
on the ground and have never seen one like this. It is quite peculiar. You don't have to worry about
artifacts moving. Just remember that there really isn't any place that Indians haven't been. My saying
is that every knoll should produce some sort of Indian artifact.

 

[pronghorn]

Ok, I am new to this and was just wondering. Sorry if my post was considred 'silly.'

Vibes, welcome to T-net
Sorry my post wasn't worded better, I often don't think of how what I am typing
will come across to others. I didn't mean in any way to imply your question was
silly. I thought maybe I wasn't aware of some phenomenon of the Great Lakes that
would move rocks great distances.
There is at least one place where rocks move and no one knows why.

http://geology.com/articles/racetrack-playa-sliding-rocks.shtml

http://geology.wr.usgs.gov/parks/deva/ftrac1.html

Also my lady is amazed at how many rocks move from their original location
to our yard after I am gone for a few hours.

Airbourne80 is right on, don't hesitate to ask anything here, there are alot of
special people here and they know a lot. And there are some like me who don't
communicate as well as we would like. Again welcome and enjoy this place, best site
around!

 

[WhiteCountyPaleo]

I think aliens are trying to mess with us. They'll drop down from the saucer just right a do a hang ten!!
Cool rock sliding pics pronghorn!

 

[jimb]

It looks like a hot rock. A real oddity for sure. Does it register on a metal detector?

 

[WhiteCountyPaleo]

Did you find this on the beach? If so I'd say it's an arrowhead. If not, a pendant. I've seen a beach worn down arrowhead before, but not this much. It's still possible I'd say.

 

[outdoorsup]

Water and rocks can really wear down other rocks as well as metal objects. I responded to a hand grenade, Army EOD, when I was stationed in Alaska. The grenade was found on the beach by a detectorist who thought he recognized it as a greande, but it was shapped like a large egg and glass smooth. Upon further investigation it was determined to be a practice pineapple, MKII hand grenade. Cool looking paper weight. Water and rocks can do some crazy things.

 

[vibes]

Hey, thanks for the responses and the welcome

Here's a pic and the catalyst of the original post. I was wondering about the "celt" or celt wanna-be to the right in the photo.

 

[*Molly*]

Hi Vibes, Welcome.
Nice finds, Interesting post, Ask all the questions you want, sure some of the guys will know/or at least help you come to a conclusion.

Molly.

btw, GL, neat little point ya got there.

 

[WhiteCountyPaleo]

The one in the bottom row in the middle...That looks like a broken gouge or adz. That needs close up shots.
And the one in the bottom left almost looks like it has part of a pecked groove on the one side .