Native American axe head

Spartacus1990

Tenderfoot
Feb 26, 2023
5
15
South jersey

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Upvote 13
Looks like an ax head..yes, but I believe it's just a naturally shaped rock.

I see no evidence at all of it being "worked", as in markings on it made
by man.
 

If in fact it is not a worked piece of stone it would still be consistent with the type of natural stone tools used before some individual discovered what happened when a certain rock was struck and the resulting pieces produced a sharp edge. I think most scientists agree that natural stone tools, usually found near, and shaped by, water preceded worked stone tools. If you have a good museum or large college nearby you may be able to submit your find for evaluation as an actual tool. Otherwise you have found a rock you would not want to be struck with. Either way, good eye.
 

I also agree, natural, no signs of being used or touched by man.
 

Sorry, the new pictures posted still do not show any signs of the rock being worked or touched by man, if anything they show even more it is natural rock.
 

I’ll split the proverbial hair. Artifact means made by man (human). The definition does not include unaltered things from nature Used by humans. A creek rock thrown at a rabbit does not become an artifact due to intent alone. If this axehead predates the time when people learned to alter/flake rocks, it can be a tool (unprovable), but it wouldn’t be an artifact. If it were my find, I’d keep it anyway. I appreciate you posting it for us to view.
 

Images show a grainy Quartzite rock. Never a choice of early Americans because of brittleness. What is there is a natural stone. Zero tooling marks to produce an edge. Not even possible with that type of rock.
 

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