Is this an Indian tool or just a rock?

[Rfc100]

I was hiking in the woods in Southeast Michigan and found this. I can't tell if it's just a cool rock or an indian tool. How do you tell when it's not that obvious?

 

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[Man o' War]

When it's not that obvious. I'd bet my arm that's just a rock.

 

[Rfc100]

Looks like a lot of artifacts I've seen online, so how can you tell?

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

If it was used as a tool it was as they found it. It shows no sign of human intervention or improvement. Worked stone would have spalls. That just looks like a river or stream cobble that has been tumbled smooth.

 

[huntsman53]

Is it really that white? I wonder if it might not be a sun bleached out fossil of a piece of bone!


Frank

 

[BosnMate]

How large is it? If it was used, what would it have been used for. I've not seen an artifact shaped like your rock, there is no indication that it was attached to anything, or worked by human hand into a tool, so at this point my vote is just a rock.

 

[mirage83]

Just a rock to my eyes.

 

[Rfc100]

It's pretty white, but I don't think it's a bone. It has angles along the edge like is was carved.

 

[Rfc100]

About 3.5" x 2. I was thinking it's a Celt. I don't see any difference between these photos and the item I posted, hence the reason for my inquiry. In fact, mine appears to have been more deliberate. The tip has more of a point and there is a definite shape. The sides and bottom have angles, like they were shaved, that aren't easily photographed. If it's some old tool, it has probably been dulled over time.

 

[buckeye digger]

There is a huge difference. Celts will almost always be symmetrical and entirely rounded except for the sharpened and usually well worn cutting edge. In my 12 years of collecting native American artifacts and looking through my father's 40year collection which includes roughly 100 examples, no Celt was ever shaped like that, or made from that type of material. I see no indication of tooling marks or usage, and I've never seen one made from that particular material. My guess is a well worn River rock, probably a type of limestone judging by the white color.

 

[AlabamaRelic]

Indian Sex Stone.

 

[Hot zone]

Camp rock! A rock that has potential to be used and brought into camp... You tell your kids to get you some rocks for a hammerstone ... This one was a reject!