Another rock. What was this used for?

[tchaire]

Just another small, smooth rock until you look at the ends. Any suggestions on its use?

T.

 

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[SOHIO]

yay rocks !! looks like calcite deposites , find it near shell middens or bones?

 

[tchaire]

Thanks SOHIO...I know what you're referring to. But what you're seeing at the ends(hard to tell from the pics) isn't covering the surface of the rock. It's the inside of the rock once the outer layer (brown surface) has been removed. I'm thinking some type of hammerstone, but most of the ones I find are big. This thing is about the size of a quarter.

T.

 

[larson1951]

it is most likely a pecking stone
something for grinding spices or ingredients for paint, or making some kind of medicine
they are plentiful where i hunt
a true artifact, i will try to post an image for you to compare
these are not good images but i hope you can see that you have found a similar implement

 

[SwampHunter]

Possibly a pecking stone. Like a hammerstone only smaller.

 

[tchaire]

Thanks gentlemen...Would this type of stone be used to "peck" out the groove in an Indian hammer, axe, maul, etc?

T.

 

[old digger]

it is most likely a pecking stone
something for grinding spices or ingredients for paint, or making some kind of medicine
they are plentiful where i hunt
a true artifact, i will try to post an image for you to compare
these are not good images but i hope you can see that you have found a similar implementView attachment 630149View attachment 630150

I would also agree.

 

[SOHIO]

Yeah must be hammerstones could have been used for pecking and or some other utilitarian purpose. Nice examples larson thanks for the look. I haven't found too many hammerstones where I've been hunting last couple years but have found them plenty on other spots mostly flint ones though. Have quit a bit of them that looks like larsons. Pen worked...huh?

 

[old digger]

Thanks gentlemen...Would this type of stone be used to "peck" out the groove in an Indian hammer, axe, maul, etc?

T.

From what i was told by a elderly Indian friend, a suitable river stone was found. Then a long strip of leather was taken and sand was wrapped in the leather. While sitting by a stream, the stone was put under water, and the leather strip with the sand was rotated around the spot where the groove was to be. The process of always adding sand to leather strip was necessary to work out the groove. This was a tedious job. Like I said, this was what i was told.

 

[BJH62]

Did they make the 3/4 groove axe the same way?

 

[old digger]

Did they make the 3/4 groove axe the same way?

I think it's possible that they used this method.

 

[larson1951]

the method of making the groove on an axe
was made by a larger stone
anyway you are on the right track only a larger stone was used for that
like the one i will show here
i wish i could post a better image of a better piece but this one was handy

 

[Edmundruffin]

the method of making the groove on an axe
was made by a larger stone
anyway you are on the right track only a larger stone was used for that
like the one i will show here
i wish i could post a better image of a better piece but this one was handy
View attachment 630319View attachment 630320View attachment 630321View attachment 630322

That is a hammer stone. Making a axe was a three step process, 1. Pecking the stone into a rough shape of an axe. 2. Grinding the pecked axe into a almost finished shape. 3.Polishing, usually done on the bit and the groove if the tool being made is an axe. Most axes still shoe pitted pecking marks. Hers in the south some celts still show pitted peck marks, however I have some that are polished slick all over. Adena polled celts are polished to a super fine finish. I have seen some flint celts and adzes that had to have hundreds of hours in the polishing to achieve the super smooth finish.