What did I dig up?

[rrth]

Heavy (maybe lead) spherical ball. About 2 1/2 " in diameter, weighs about 5 pounds. Has bumps on it in various patterns, generally about 1/2" diameter, round, about 3/16" high in the center. a little smaller than a baseball. Did cannonballs have a pattern of bumps? Someone suggested a ball shaped lead ingot

 

[gunsil]

Tried a magnet?? Looks kind of like rusty iron to me.

 

[smokeythecat]

Iron will "bump" like that. As stated, see if it's magnetic.

 

[rrth]

It is not magnetic. and it is way too heavy to be iron or steel. The bumps are in a sperific pattern. From one side of the ball, one bump in the center, encircled by six bumps around it, encircled by twelve bumps around the six. The other side has the same exact pattern of 19 bumps. If you rotate it 90 degrees, the two circles of twelve bumps are about one inch apart. The ball is not rusty. It is dark gray with lighter gray bumps. The surface is rough, especially the bumps.

 

[Msbeepbeep]

Try putting it in the "what's it" forum, someone may know. It is a mystery.

 

[burlbark]

It is not magnetic. and it is way too heavy to be iron or steel. The bumps are in a sperific pattern. From one side of the ball, one bump in the center, encircled by six bumps around it, encircled by twelve bumps around the six. The other side has the same exact pattern of 19 bumps. If you rotate it 90 degrees, the two circles of twelve bumps are about one inch apart. The ball is not rusty. It is dark gray with lighter gray bumps. The surface is rough, especially the bumps.

You need a stronger magnet. You also state its not iron or steel because of its weight. Its not gold and its not silver. It must be lead or your refrigerator magnet is not strong enough. Scrub it with a wire brush

 

[JOHUNT]

Since you said the "bumps" were intentional, I thought it may be a mace or flail(weapons). Good luck IDing it

 

[dieselram94]

I am color blind but from the overall look I say its definitely iron. Might try electrolysis. Much more detail might emerge...

Sent from my SCH-R930 using Tapatalk 2

 

[roadrunner]

A bag of lead balls used for a musket,pistol, or what ever muzzle loader they would fit.
They have been in the ground for so long that they annealed together in the shape of the bag, or leather pouch they where in.

 

[rrth]

Thanks for all the info. I have strong magnets. It is not magnetic and is 98% gray and weighs much more than iron.
RR

 

[elijahhenry10]

You can try to find the density of it to get a closer guess of what material it is made of.

 

[Prestigitation Digger]

You near the coast lake or river? Could be a weight for a casting net? Would have had a bunch of these around the edge of the net.