Whats this rock for?

BosnMate · Dec 18, 2012

What's this rock for?

I've been told or read where this type of rock was used to heat water in a basket for cooking. There is the same depression on each side and sticks were use to fish it out of the fire and drop into a basket of water. Seems to me like a lot of work just to make a heating element?

1320 · Dec 18, 2012

Perhaps we haven't honestly determined the actually use of every artifact found but I feel very comfortable in saying that your images depict a tool of some sort. I'll withhold my opinion after hearing from others that are more well versed in this type of material. It seems like a material that would hold heat and hold it quite well. I wouldn't think that the indentions on either side would have been manufactured solely to aid in recovery from a hot liquid. If it is in fact a tool, it would have taken some time and effort to create, lending its' use to something more complicated than a reheating element. For what it's worth, I have witnessed some Southwestern cooking that use reheating stones but nothing like the example in your images.

NC field hunter · Dec 18, 2012

I have one that is really similar to yours, and it backs your theory. I have been told mine was "fire popped".

SOHIO · Dec 18, 2012

I believe those are nutting stones fellas ......nice ones :icon_thumright:

although the heating stone idea seems plausible :icon_scratch:

SOHIO · Dec 18, 2012

NCs does have some heat damage it seems

NC field hunter · Dec 18, 2012

SOHIO said:
I believe those are nutting stones fellas ......nice ones

although the heating stone idea seems plausible

SOHIO, if I were going by a pic, I would say nutting stone also. In this case, I'm pretty sure my piece isn't a nutting stone. One difference between my piece and Bosonmate's is mine is only concave on one face.

SOHIO · Dec 18, 2012

NC field hunter said:
SOHIO, if I were going by a pic, I would say nutting stone also. In this case, I'm pretty sure my piece isn't a nutting stone. One difference between my piece and Bosonmate's is mine is only concave on one face.

So your going on the notion that the damage is from heat, making it a heating stone? Sorry dont mean that to sound smart just simply asking...I don't doubt you or bosn on your pcs being heating stones....definitely could be....but they do look like nutting stones I wouldn't know how that could ever be proven with bosn s pc but someone at say a university etc. may be able to determine whether or not that crack is from heat. anyway cool pcs.. :icon_thumright:

1320 · Dec 18, 2012

I ruled out nutting stone based on dual indentions but that was my first impression. Perhaps one side became too worn/deep for the target nut then it was flipped to create a new working surface? I did say target nut didn't I? LMAO....

Regardless, seems like some nice material that would have been held in high regard.

NC field hunter · Dec 18, 2012

Ok, this one is going to be complicated. The round stone like BMates was found in a field along with a fire damaged point. So, that really doesn't make my posted piece necessarily a "heating" stone. The whole field may have been burned off, causing fire damage on all of the stones there. However, I have nutting stones, and they show a different type of wear. I really do not know how to explain it any deeper without posting pics. Even then, the difference in the concave faces may not jump out at you. Also, for the post below, every nutting stone that I have shows a concave part on both faces. I hate to hijack this thread, but if you would like, I'll post pics of a nutting stone and the one above for you to look at. I'm sorry, visual is the only way I could get what I'm trying to say across. 15 hour day at work. Not much for words right now. Lol!

1320 · Dec 18, 2012

NC field hunter said:
Ok, this one is going to be complicated. The round stone like BMates was found in a field along with a fire damaged point. So, that really doesn't make my posted piece necessarily a "heating" stone. The whole field may have been burned off, causing fire damage on all of the stones there. However, I have nutting stones, and they show a different type of wear. I really do not know how to explain it any deeper without posting pics. Even then, the difference in the concave faces may not jump out at you. Also, for the post below, every nutting stone that I have shows a concave part on both faces. I hate to hijack this thread, but if you would like, I'll post pics of a nutting stone and the one above for you to look at. I'm sorry, visual is the only way I could get what I'm trying to say across. 15 hour day at work. Not much for words right now. Lol!

Different materials will display different wear patterns and not all nutting stones will have dual "faces". Many a paint pot has been ID'd as a nutting stone for what it's worth. My first impression of your nutting stone on this thread reminded me of a heat treated flint/chert nodule but the indention trends slightly in a different direction. Get some sleep man, we can hash another day. Best discussion comes with a fresh head.

BosnMate · Dec 18, 2012

NC field hunter said:
Ok, this one is going to be complicated. The round stone like BMates was found in a field along with a fire damaged point. So, that really doesn't make my posted piece necessarily a "heating" stone. The whole field may have been burned off, causing fire damage on all of the stones there. However, I have nutting stones, and they show a different type of wear. I really do not know how to explain it any deeper without posting pics. Even then, the difference in the concave faces may not jump out at you. Also, for the post below, every nutting stone that I have shows a concave part on both faces. I hate to hijack this thread, but if you would like, I'll post pics of a nutting stone and the one above for you to look at. I'm sorry, visual is the only way I could get what I'm trying to say across. 15 hour day at work. Not much for words right now. Lol!

You certainly have my permission to post comparison photos. I'm not worried about the post being hijacked.

NC field hunter · Dec 18, 2012

BosnMate said:
You certainly have my permission to post comparison photos. I'm not worried about the post being hijacked.

Thanks. Some get uptight when one starts posting all over their thread. As Long as everything is relevant, it doesn't bother me either. With that being said, if you ever have any thing that you can add to a thread of mine, please do. That's why I'm here, to learn and compare with others. I'm in artificial light at this hour, I'll get nice pictures in the morning, under natural light. I think we will both be best suited by nice pictures, considering pictures aren't the greatest for comparison. I really enjoy your threads by the way!

wells · Dec 19, 2012

Hammerstone for small jobs. I see it is batterd around the edge.

larson1951 · Dec 19, 2012

i have heard the term "cooking stones" for many years and i think i have round granite balls that could have been used that way
however i see the first posted image as more of some sort of tool

swiftfan · Dec 19, 2012

Could it be a "heel stone" to use with a bow saw to make a fire? I've seen similar ones used for that... just wondering.

larson1951 · Dec 19, 2012

swiftfan said:
Could it be a "heel stone" to use with a bow saw to make a fire? I've seen similar ones used for that... just wondering.

you know one of my first thoughts was a cap stone for a bow drill but it
seems like it has wear around the outside perimeter also
i have found several similar pieces

swiftfan · Dec 19, 2012

True. When I first looked at it, it looked like a creek stone, smoothed out by water. But you're right, it does have a certian "wear" to it, dosen't it? If it were round on the bottom, I would say it could have been used as a pestle too, but both sides worn the same.. not sure.. Great find Bosnmate!

IlliniGuy · Dec 19, 2012

wells said:
Hammerstone for small jobs. I see it is batterd around the edge.

I agree. It is pretty common in my area to find these with little dimples pecked into them. My guess is to aid holding.

bsit1361 · Dec 19, 2012

I posted my like that a few days ago. I think we determined it was too small to be a nutter. You wouldn't beat against some thing that small. My nutting stones are a foot across and way thicker. I'm going with cap stone or something to aid in keeping the hand safe while using another tool. Some things we will never no for sure. Mine is also double pitted. One side deeper then the other.

rock · Dec 19, 2012

If I found it here in Ga. It would be called a Discoidal. I am still waiting to find a whole one all I have found is pieces made from marble.
Check the site I got listed at the bottom I got posted and you will see some listed at that site.