Curious about this piece, and spitstone question.

[diggingthe1]

I have always wondered about this piece. I have thought it might be a button of some kind, but as I look at it more I don't know. Maybe it was attached to a stick or bone somehow. Let me know what you think. It is notched on the front right side. Same when you flip it. The high points on the faces are polished. Maybe a multi tool or maybe just debotage. Anyone have any buttons to share?? Another thing I have always wondered about are spit stones. Since I was small my mother always said the Native Americans would put a small stone in their mouth to stave off thirst. She would have me find one when I was thirsty when we were hiking. Has anyone else heard of this? I always appreciate what others have to say, thanks in advance! The piece is only notched from the front right side in the top 2 pictures.

 

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[bulletproof002000]

used to make arrow shafts maybe?

 

[Tdog]

That notch looks too ragged (no usage wear) and narrow to me for use in preparing arrow shafts. I'd say it's a spall.

 

[diggingthe1]

I appreciate the replies, bulletproof and Tdog, thank you very much!!!

 

[pghDFXer]

Looks like for running sinew through it to skin the fat off , or plant fiber

 

[pghDFXer]

I thought this was button like, natural looking to, but based on location and other pretty identical ones, I kept a few

 

[uniface]

"Strangulated Blade." Function conjectural. Looks, to me like a narrow shaft smoother. Check the notches & see if they show wear.

 

[diggingthe1]

Thanks pghDFXer! The notches are sharp and maybe they had to be to use it for the purpose of making sinew. I sure don't know. It wouldn't make sense for a button with the sharp notches. I like your idea!
Thanks uniface, a conjectural piece for sure. I had to look that word up, I'm always learning, thank you!!! The notches do not show wear but they sure look like they were made for a purpose!!! Would they attach scrapers to handles somehow? I can't picture it, but one side looks to be like a scraper, and a rough jagged knife edge next to that. Anyway, thank you both for your experience!!!

 

[Hillbilly Prince]

I've read long ago of putting a pebble in your mouth as your mother said, but can't remember if it was connected to Indians.

 

[joshuaream]

Patina isn't always a great indicator of age, but boy there is a pretty significant difference between some of the faces of that bladelet and the notching on the sides. And it looks to be really nice material, I wonder if a Woodland or Mississippian person picked up a bladelet made back in the Archaic or Paleo periods and tried to do something with it?

During WW2 one of the sides in the North Africa battles (I don't remember if it was the English or the Germans) would suck on shirt buttons because it keeps your mouth from getting dry and kept complaints down. I've done it while hiking in the desert and you produce a lot spit when you would otherwise have a dry mouth from the hot, dry air.

 

[diggingthe1]

Thanks Hillbilly and Joshuaream, I imagine traveling to different water sources they came in handy. I use the spit stones now and then when hiking. I did find one that was out of context, that I was sure a real one. No way to ever prove it was. With the other piece, I was kind of hoping someone would say it's definitely a Paleo flute that was reworked in later periods. I also think it might have been used at different times. But I'm happy to have a conversation piece!!!

 

[quito]

The pictured piece just may have a graver spur on there as well.