Can anybody help with possible I.D.

[EDaniels]

I am a long time admirer and newbie hunter/collector of Native American history and artifacts. I am located in Broome Co. New York which has alot of history from the NA culture, revolutionary war, underground railroad passages and safehouses. I recently took a walk in a cornfield near the Susquehanna river near the hamlet of Oquaga and found these two items within 50 yards from each other. I didnt find any points but there was quite a bit of chipped flint in the area as well. For some reason these two items grabbed my attention and I picked them up. The first I think may be a pestle if you divided it into three two out of the three are flat with stridations in both directions on each flat side and the ends seem to be worn. The next I have no idea I was thinking maybe a scraper or hoe of some kind, the one end appears to have been worked and I know its not a homerun but it seems qorked to fit into your hand perfectly. Thanks for any input.

 

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[DizzyDigger]

I'm not well versed in artifacts, but to me they appear to be
only common stones.

That's no reason to stop looking, however..

 

[Huzzah!]

These appear to be rocks, but save them. Use them to better educate yourself. Don't consider how well something fits in your hand since any rock can fit in your hand if you handle it enough. Instead, look for signs of use--i.e. chipped edges, polished areas, etc. It's understood that NAs would use stones that already, for example, resembled an axe if one were interested in making an axe (less work). Who knows, these pieces could have been saved in mind for that very idea. Context is also something to consider. I know a guy who found rocks that resembled axes in a very small, small area (~400 sq. ft.) that also held chips, broken points, a hammerstone or two, and preforms, but the rocks favoring the appearance of an axe certainly weren't worked--we believe they were there to be worked, but never were. Keep looking. Go back. Good luck.

 

[EDaniels]

Thank you for your input. I wish I could get better pictures of the second item that could show what appears to be grinding marks on the front edge and how it seems to be made at an angle of sorts.

 

[newnan man]

They are rocks. One has scrapes from plows running over it. Keep looking!

 

[EDaniels]

I am actually intelligent enough to know what plow damage is but thanks for the info.

 

[OntarioArch]

Hang in there EDaniels and keep walking those ag fields near the river. If you're finding 'flint chips' that is a positive sign.