What is this?

[lisfisher]

Hello, I dug this thing up many years ago in a chunk of land that the state had previously planned to run the local interstate through. As they began prepping the land for the highway, many native american artifacts were turning up, so they had to re-route the highway slightly to the east. Anyway, I used to dig there and came up with this thing one day. I am no expert, but the top of this thing sure looks like it's been used many times, it has this waxy sheen to it in spots, like it has had objects struck or rubbed on it with the grain, and is super smooth but only on the top, like it was used as some sort of sharpening device. What do you think?? You can see the waxy type sheen on the top of the stone better in the first picture.

 

[painterx7]

Idk but I find pieces with that same shape hope you find out what it is ??

 

[katdancing]

very interesting piece & unique. Kat

 

[monsterrack]

What is the size of it.

 

[lisfisher]

4 3/4" long, 1 3/4" high, and 1 1/4" thick { across the top shown in picture }

 

[lisfisher]

I'd like to bring this thread up again to see if this is a mano stone. The flat side has obviously been rubbed repeatedly against something, or it sure looks that way to me. This is the way it came out of the ground. The flat side has a sort of "sheen " to it as if it had been used a lot.

 

[rock]

Im afraid it is still a natural rock. Cant tell you the type of stone but natural it is

 

[DFW_THer]

Im afraid it is still a natural rock. Cant tell you the type of stone but natural it is

I respectfully disagree. With those perfect angles? That natural rock served a purpose for a long long time, then was lost or left behind.

 

[reuellis]

Can we see pics of all sides and both ends please?

 

[willjo]

Looks like greenstone and the N. A. used this stone a lot for tools and axes in our area.

 

[weasel1000]

i've only just seen this exchange now, but i DO disagree. It seems kind of irresponsible to say, with total certainty, that you are right. They may throw the thing out. It is NOT just a rock. Please, at least leave open the possibility that you could be mistaken and that they should learn more about it. It is the total, complete rejection of things, based on what? exactly, that i object to.

 

[Geradot]

grindstone ( probability 99 % ) .

 

[rock]

i've only just seen this exchange now, but i DO disagree. It seems kind of irresponsible to say, with total certainty, that you are right. They may throw the thing out. It is NOT just a rock. Please, at least leave open the possibility that you could be mistaken and that they should learn more about it. It is the total, complete rejection of things, based on what? exactly, that i object to.

Is this it weasel? Thanks for pm but I am still saying natural by the cortex on it. Sure it could of been carried into a camp site waiting for something to happen but imo it doesnt show any work on it without more pics its anyones guess.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

I have to agree with rock on this one. I don't see any evidence of it ever being pecked or ground to make it an artifact. This lines you see are just natural striations in the stone and may actually be marks from being ground down by a Glacier.

 

[Charl]

grindstone ( probability 99 % ) .

It does look like sandstone. A sharpening stone would not necessarily be fashioned. Many whetstones were, but some were just chunks of sandstone that were put to use to hone/sharpen the bits on axes, etcetera. And this stone does look like at least a possibility for a sharpening stone. I have a sandstone multipurpose sharpening stone that has one surface that shows it was used as a whetstone, as well as bone awl sharpening grooves. Now, not saying this is a sharpening or grinding stone, but it just seems possible. And it will assume a shape through usage, and not because it was shaped from scratch. Here's the sandstone example I was referring to. Note one surface used as a whetstone. Nothing better then sandstone for the purpose; it's natural sandpaper....

 

[unclemac]

I respectfully disagree. With those perfect angles? That natural rock served a purpose for a long long time, then was lost or left behind.

depending on the stone type, lots of rocks will fracture at perfect angles.

 

[Charl]

i've only just seen this exchange now, but i DO disagree. It seems kind of irresponsible to say, with total certainty, that you are right. They may throw the thing out. It is NOT just a rock. Please, at least leave open the possibility that you could be mistaken and that they should learn more about it. It is the total, complete rejection of things, based on what? exactly, that i object to.

People felt certain it was natural in good faith. My own point is that that is exactly what many sharpening stones look like. Natural, with usage facets. There is a sheen from rubbing on one side of that sandstone block. As there is on one side of the example of multipurpose sharpening stone I showed. If found on a site, and I don't know if it was dug up in association with artifacts, and it's an old post, the OP is not around, but if found on a site, and by appearance, I would have no problem seeing it as a piece of sandstone showing usage as a whetstone. If found on a known site, or in context with other artifacts. More often then not, they will be sandstone, and they will show utilized facets from sharpening activity. I'd much prefer to make the call in hand, as well as know the specific context. But I've seen a lot of sandstone blocks used as sharpening stones, and for that reason it does not strike me as impossible in the least.

 

[redbeardrelics]

If it were found on one of the sites around here, I would bet money that it was an artifact worthy of keeping, but as Charl stated it all comes down to context on a piece like that.

 

[Mrdigz]

If this was found in Southern Connecticut theres a very good chance it was shaped by glacial movement. In southern Connecticut there are exposures of glacial till where you will find some very interesting shapes.
I'm a firm believer that NA used these outcroppings for tools and weapons. But once again it is almost impossible to say your find is an artifact unless it was found in the hands of a deceased NA or if it showed sufficient evidence of being used for such purposes.

Rock is exactly right when he said it could of been taken to a camp for later use.
Keep hunting the area and maybe some good finds will come from it. HH!

 

[Geradot]

It does look like sandstone. A sharpening stone would not necessarily be fashioned. Many whetstones were, but some were just chunks of sandstone that were put to use to hone/sharpen the bits on axes, etcetera. And this stone does look like at least a possibility for a sharpening stone. I have a sandstone multipurpose sharpening stone that has one surface that shows it was used as a whetstone, as well as bone awl sharpening grooves. Now, not saying this is a sharpening or grinding stone, but it just seems possible. And it will assume a shape through usage, and not because it was shaped from scratch. Here's the sandstone example I was referring to. Note one surface used as a whetstone. Nothing better then sandstone for the purpose; it's natural sandpaper....

View attachment 1383081View attachment 1383083View attachment 1383084

I found hundreds of different grindstones, abrasive instrument .
I am sure that this instance - grindstone....