Indian/Viking Anchor ??

[mojjax]

This rock object was found while camping on an island in Maine . It weighs about 45 pounds .
it is 17 inches tall and about 9 inches wide at the thickest part . The groove goes all the way around it .
Any ideas ??

 

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[silverswede]

Wow, Mojjax, That is some find. It is shaped like an Indian war club or Axe but if it is it would be a super magnum caliber and anyone confronting a warrior swinging a 45 pound battle axe should be considering retreat as an option.

 

[diggummup]

I don't know but I like it.

 

[DaChief]

Clearly altered by man and not nature. That is neat. It could be the War Club of the Paul Bunyon of Indians.

Nice Find!!! I would have a local Archeologist look at it.

I'll bet that may make the Banner when you ID it.

DaChief

 

[stefen]

My opinoin only...

Rocks found in certain climates develop a patina (or varnish like desert rocks) that takes many years...maybe even hundreds of years...

Here is a rock that has a dark exterior and yet the groove appears to be fresh...

If the rock were ancient, such as from the Viking period or older native American Indians, one would expect to see a uniform color to the outer exposed surfaces. The same would be mostly true if it came from a submerged environment...

Check out a stone ax head and note the uniformity of color.

Having said that...the rock is unique...and could be a crude anchor...but most likely, of recent vintage.

Its like finding a Calvary sword dating from the Civil War that is rust free yet does not fill all of the conditions of being recently found on a battlefierld.

The true test of age is to have the rock anchor evaluated by a professional collector or curator (or geologist)...

Good luck on your research...

 

[stefen]

A closer observatioin, the stone appears to have striations which parallel the groove...

 

[mojjax]

Here's some more pictures .
It's been leaning againts the front steps for over a year . The greenish patina is the area that was not exposed to the sunlight .
It has been under the drip edge of the roof all this time also .

 

[stefen]

Part of the question has been answered...still see the parallel lines...

Photo the stone using infra-red film...be suprised what stands out from the naked eye...

Maybe use a black-light...might work as well...

 

[savant365]

http://capemay.com/magazine/2009/07/juets-journal-part-7/

Just my opinion but I think it's a crude sounding weight. How old? who knows? It looks like it could have been in use 1000 years ago or 100. I hope you can find out for sure,

HH Charlie

 

[johnnyi]

I agree with Stefen. it looks fairly modern, perhaps a lobsterman's marker buoy weight. I hope it does prove to be old though.

 

[traderoftreasures]

the groove appears to have a pushed up lip on the bottom that baffles me. it is a neat item and it is an agreed anchor or weight.

 

[CRUSADER]

Plumpbob

 

[scratcher]

Could the groove be simply a softer type of rock that weathered faster? It could have been layed down in striations, or the softer material(before hardening) filled a crack in the harder material. This piece then could be broken from the much larger original formation. Any geologists out there?

After looking at the second set of pics again, it looks like it's all the same kind of rock. So, probably not...

 

[allen]

its patrick ( from spongebob )after hes been out of the water too long !
Whatever it is, it is a neat find !