🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Unknown Iron Object, Louisiana

[JBlaine]

Hey all,

My friend has said someone found this object in their garden, along with an identical one. There are no maker's marks or anything. Any ideas on what it could be? I've tried archaeologist friends and the State Archaeologist and no one seems to have any idea what it is. Measurements are roughly 3 x 8 inches. Precise location unknown but in Louisiana.

JBlaine

 

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[Mud Hut]

What does the other side look like?

 

[RustyGold]

Specialty Wood plane? Possibly for arrow shafts?

 

[JBlaine]

What does the other side look like?

The other side is identical. I am able to separate the two pieces. I attached a photo of them separated.

 

[JBlaine]

Specialty Wood plane? Possibly for arrow shafts?

I don't think so. It seems like a sort of latch or locking mechanism. The two parts separate and it appears to have some sort of pin hole in the middle.

 

[Mud Hut]

They look like swing-away harness hooks used in tack rooms.

 

[JBlaine]

They look like swing-away harness hooks used in tack rooms.

Both of these pieces join together. There is no way for them to really be mounted to a wall. It honestly seems like a locking mechanism for a gate or something of the sort but I haven't been able to find identical parallels in any of the archaeological or contemporary material that I've been able to get my hands on.

 

[Mud Hut]

Both of these pieces join together. There is no way for them to really be mounted to a wall. It honestly seems like a locking mechanism for a gate or something of the sort but I haven't been able to find identical parallels in any of the archaeological or contemporary material that I've been able to get my hands on.

How do you know they were made to fit together? It looks like each piece has its own tapered screw hole indicating that each one had its own wood mounting screw.

 

[JBlaine]

How do you know they were made to fit together?

Both examples found were retrieved in pairs, rusted together in the same manner.

 

[Mud Hut]

Both examples found were retrieved in pairs, rusted together in the same manner.

oh..I see.

 

[The Rebel]

Thumb cuffs?

 

[Mud Hut]

However they mount, I still contend they are are tack hooks.

 

[JBlaine]

However they mount, I still contend they are are tack hooks.

Right on, I'll look through modern and archaeological examples to see if there are any that match the morphology of the object I got. At the very least, the furniture on the mount in the pictures you provided is reminiscent of the hook/bolt on the object.

 

[JBlaine]

Just an update: I spent the last few hours digging and I think we can safely rule out them being a special form of tack hooks despite having some common features.

 

[Sandog]

Thumb cuffs?

That was also my first thought. The size would be about right,

 

[JBlaine]

That was also my first thought. The size would be about right,

I have looked for older versions of handcuffs and shackles. However, the size of the object being about 8x3 inches makes it better suited for fitting a wrist rather than thumbs I would think.

 

[Mud Hut]

Just an update: I spent the last few hours digging and I think we can safely rule out them being a special form of tack hooks despite having some common features.

What criteria did you use to rule that out?

 

[pepperj]

No idea what it might be, that I see anyways.

 

[DizzyDigger]

Thumb cuffs?

 

[Mud Hut]

I can't see how they would work as thumb cuffs since they aren't hinged.