Unusual find.Need opinion.

[The Bulgarian]

I just found something never found before. It was at Dania beach.
In the water in the middle of a horse shoe.
I think it is from native Indians or Ship wreck.
It smell in side like oil but sweet.
And it is ringing like iron on my machine.
What you thinking?

 

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[Paleopilot]

Will a magnet stick to it? Maybe a steering wheel knob from one of the "Swamp Mens" boats.

 

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[The Bulgarian]

Will a magnet stick to it? Maybe a steering wheel knob from one of the "Swamp Mens" boats.

I try and the magnet dos not stick to it.

 

[AU Seeker]

While I agree this object maybe very old, I don't think it's an oil lamp, because all of the ceramic/clay oil lamps I've seen had 2 holes in them, one large hole for filling and a small hole for where the flame would be.

 

[Dano Sverige]

It seems to be screaming "Inkwell" at me when i look at it. Maybe 18th century or so?

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

No offense intended ...but the finder says he found it in the water at Dania Beach, which is near Fort Lauderdale, Florida. So I think it's unlikely to be a multi-thousand-year-old European relic.

Its base is entirely rounded, so I doubt it was made for sitting on a flat surface, such a tabletop. (That would exclude an inkwell.) Also, it's neck doesn't have a recess for a cord to hang it from something. Those characteristics (and the find-location) are why I suggested it is likely to be Native American in origin, because those natives in Florida didn't have flat-topped furniture until long-long-after contact with Europeans.

It seems too small to be intended as a food container, so I suspect it was for something like ointment.

 

[Archeodeb]

It seems too small to be intended as a food container, so I suspect it was for something like ointment.

I agree. The size says that whatever it was was scarce and possibly precious. Either that, or it held something not used in large quantities. Ointment or anointing oil of some sort certainly fits the bill for the first hypothesis. Salt might work for the second (you said there was something white inside?), although I would question the necessity for a salt cellar so close to the ocean. Spices would work for either hypothesis. Does it have an odor of any kind?

 

[Little River Hunter]

He mentioined it smelled like oil, so maybe it was used by the Indians for storing a small amount of oil/bear grease to mix with ochre for face paint. Then again, the Seminoles had slaves, so it could have been made or used by them. Just a thought. Sure is a nice piece though.


LRH

 

[capt-zero]

I agree with diggumup. It has the classic shape of a seed pot.

 

[rock]

OK lets solve this. Put in the NA artifacts page for an ID on it. There are a few people from Fl in that section of the forum. Maybe somebody there will know what it is. Pottery is a weakness of mine and I wouldnt give a good guess. Thanks, rock

 

[Archeodeb]

I agree. The size says that whatever it was was scarce and possibly precious. Either that, or it held something not used in large quantities. Ointment or anointing oil of some sort certainly fits the bill for the first hypothesis. Salt might work for the second (you said there was something white inside?), although I would question the necessity for a salt cellar so close to the ocean. Spices would work for either hypothesis. Does it have an odor of any kind?

I should have been more specific. What I meant was does the oil smell like it has an animal base (lard-like -- bear or goose grease, etc.) or more of a plant smell like pine resin, perfume, etc.? Another thought... Many natives used white lead to paint their faces and bodies. It can be quite white and pasty, so that could account for a white substance in the bottom of the pot.

 

[pat-tekker-cat]

To me, it so resembles an old road flare smudge pot. (perhaps a really old one)
You say it causes the detector to sound off, smells of some type of oil......
Perhaps way way back in the day......they used something of this nature?
(just my .02, and may not be worth that)

 

[Gunrunner61]

As Archeodeb said maybe white "Lead" that would give off a signal, Maybe just A Paleo Indian Paint Pot...........jmho...............HH

 

[diggummup]

The only thing is, the material used to make the pot/jar is not native to this area. The native peoples did not make much pottery, especially with what appears to be red clay, this far south. I think it's old but not necessarily native to the area, maybe a trade item? I'm curious as to what the horseshoe looked like that it was found in the proximity of.

 

[WILLENE]

inkwell?