What causes this?

[Huzzah!]

Found in lowgrounds. The edges are all worn, but the faces of the stone are smooth. How would this happen? Any ideas?

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Agony and Death on a Gold Rush Steamer: The Disastrous Sinking of the Side-Wheeler Yankee Blade - Grab it through Amazon!

[The Grim Reaper]

It looks it may have been used as a Hammerstone. That, or it has been creek tumbled for quite a whiles

 

[Quartzite Keith]

Yes, I see a hammer stone as well. The edges and small end were used for soft hammer stone flint knapping. This a common use wear pattern for knappers, we use those edges and small rounded areas to more accurately "aim" the strike and concentrate force right where it is needed. (The parent stone is quartzite or hard sandstone tumbled eons ago to get that beautiful, smooth, 'buckskin" patina.)

 

[Huzzah!]

Interesting. Thanks for the feedback. Glad I didn't pass it by.

I remember seeing photos of a few stones that looked like this one--they were labeled hammer stones--but I thought they looked odd so I didn't think twice. Knowledge is power.