🔎 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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[JBlaine]

What criteria did you use to rule that out?

Typological comparison. There is not a single example of a tack hook, modern or historical, that I could find that is remotely close to the form of this object. Despite this, I consulted friends who own horses and stables and they too discount the idea that this would be used as such. The pieces interlock with a pin to secure them together with no way of mounting these to any sort of wall. Even in the picture you provided above, the ratio between the bolt and hook features are not the same and that was the only thing that resembled the object in any way.

 

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[Mud Hut]

Typological comparison. There is not a single example of a tack hook, modern or historical, that I could find that is remotely close to the form of this object. Despite this, I consulted friends who own horses and stables and they too discount the idea that this would be used as such. The pieces interlock with a pin to secure them together with no way of mounting these to any sort of wall. Even in the picture you provided above, the ratio between the bolt and hook features are not the same and that was the only thing that resembled the object in any way.

But, since you really don't know what they are, it is only speculation that they were interlocking. It seems odd to me that the slots would be so sloppy if they were intended to mate up with each other. Just because you found them together doesn't mean they went together.

 

[JBlaine]

But, since you really don't know what they are, it is only speculation that they were interlocking. It seems odd to me that the slots would be so sloppy if they were intended to mate up with each other. Just because you found them together doesn't mean they went together.

It's not just speculation. Both examples were found rusted together this way. The one that I have not "restored" by using a vinegar soak also has remnants of the pin visible in the hole.

 

[ColorfulCreator]

Feed Bag tops/seals?

 

[Pumpkin]

They sure look like coat (or tack, etc) hooks to me. Why they seem to be side mounted by design, with only one fastener in the center, idk, and why they were intentionally fastened together before being lost, idk. Maybe they were originally designed to be affixed to a metal pole with a square top and a floor base. That pole could’ve had square protrusions which would index with the large square recesses in these objects. That would allow for a solid mounting even with just one small, central fastener, as that fastener would only be used to keep the hanger pressed against the square protrusion on the post or rack, with the protrusion itself carrying the load. Whatever the story, I think they’re hooks for hanging objects made of flexible material (leather or cloth) on for short term storage and frequent removal.