Grooved Weight

[OntarioArch]

The attached pics show an artifact I acquired at an estate sale recently....without really knowing what I was buying. (it was pretty cheap...) ....I gotta think it is a 'Grooved Weight'...with a wide groove pecked around the entire circumference, as well as transverse groove over one hemisphere. This one also exhibits what I think are many peck marks on both ventral and dorsal surfaces. Turtle-like, wouldn't you say? Also, wear marks at center of transverse groove.

Would you say it was made intentionally Turtle-Like? Is that old cordage at the bottom of the transverse groove? Thanks!

 

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[arrow86]

That’s pretty neat

 

[ToddsPoint]

Unusual piece. The groove is interesting. It's way deeper than needed for a net weight. I'd dig some of that cord out of there and look at it under magnification. You'd at least be able to tell if it's modern cord or old Indian made cord. Gary

 

[dognose]

That is an unusual item. I would suggest looking at the groove under magnification and try to determine of there are any serrations from being ground and the groove made into the stone.

the stone appears to be sedimentary rock with the some softer material weathered out.


The bottom 'crack' looking may be newer weathering compared to the upper area, if its natural.

If you look at the bottom, the wear/weathering pattern extends along the edge. Over time this may have worn and cracked/weathered more across the stone.

 

[tomclark]

It's a rolled piece of Septarian Nodule boom. JMHOP

 

[OntarioArch]

Thanks for your interest in this piece. As I scrubbed out the rusty, dirty groove with a toothbrush and soapy water, I couldn't seem to remove the last traces of 'rust'..so I did a bad thing, I guess. I dipped the brush in vinegar, and not only did some 'rust' come off but so did the black patina! Easily, maybe too easily... Pretty convinced that this is not a piece worked by Man, I then soaked the whole piece in vinegar for several hours. The *entire* black patina just washed right off. Now, my first thought was 'this was a colorant added to deceive' ...but then, could it have been a natural, organic deposit? Anyway...it's gone now!

Pics show what I see as natural, parallel lines of deposition, characteristic of sedimentary rock, but that's just a guess. What do you think? Deep in the groove I see no marks at all. And that white material is now seen at the bottom of a crack - so it ain't cordage. It comes out kinds gooey when I pick at it with a fine tweezer, yet looks fibrous. A mystery.

Unless you all can convince me, this piece is going on my 'rock pile.' If it was yours, would you bust it open with a hammer to see the inside? I'd like to!

 

[arrow86]

Is possible that it’s clay?

 

[OntarioArch]

Hmmmm. How would I tell for sure? It DOES look like clay, now that you mention it.