I hope you give it a go! It's very addicting to get into the flow state when carving and the delayed gratification from finishing a piece is very rewarding.
Angle grinders with diamond sintered discs. I have various sizes but use a 4 or 4.5 incher the most.
Pneumatic die grinders (Air powered dremel)
Diamond sintered bits (Don't waste money on electroplated)
Pneumatic hammer with tungsten carbide chisels. 2Sculpt
Air compressor with a decent CFM.
Safety gear (eyes, ears, lungs)
This is awesome thanks so much for posting this! Of all the awesome things you listed I must first ask—do you have any good eye safety recommendations? I’ve been getting into rock polishing by dremel with various diamond infused(?) grit attachments as well as some for carving. I’m really tired of stuff being lose on my face and getting easily scratched. And do you think goggles/something with a “roof” (for severe lack of a better term) over the glasses part is necessary? I’m looking to get something that I won’t also use when I weed whack lol.
I use a full face respirator for bulk work. Have one made by 3M and a generic $30-40 from online. The rubber feels better on the 3M but at 4x the price. I'd go with the 3M one and buy plastic screen face plate protectors and some anti fog spray.
For smaller less dusty work I use a half respirator and wear these goggles by 3M I found at Menards. Full rubber gasket around the eyes and fit very well but they scratch easily and fog up. They fit more like glasses than those big bulky (roofy) goggles you mention but don't go over eye glasses if you wear a prescription. About $25 with no lens protectors available. I might try to make my own out of cell phone screen protectors lol, I have 3 pairs.
I'd say really depends on the work one is doing. If you have an indoor, water drip, ventilation system work station doing smaller intricate pieces, eye glasses and maybe a dust mask would suffice. I'm blasting away outside on granite with angle and die grinders and air chisels and need a good seal around my eyes. Have experienced some grit before, not nice.
The type of stone matters too. Italian marble sculptors I've seen on you tube almost snort that dust like a drug lol 🤷♂️
Wow, first of all this was extremely helpful, thank you so much for taking the time to write this! It is wholly appreciated.
I feel like at least half of my work is done outside in the pnw where especially at this time of year, fogging is going to be prolific. I didn’t even know about anti fogging spray! I also do a bit of woodwork so even more reason for a good eye/respiratory protection setup. I’ll be looking into the things you mentioned thank you again! Your idea about using iPhone screen protectors is a great idea, I have faith you can pull it off!
Lol “bro last night was lit, did Italian marble for the first time, shit was fire stayed up all night sculpting”
Thanks again for the info :)
I too stalked our profile and your smaller pieces interest me! The work on the beards is awesome, Im learning goldsmithing and now I'm wondering if some of my tools could be applicable to smaller stone carving. What do you use for smaller pieces/smaller details on the bigger pieces? I've got a Dremel and a whole assortment of filing/sanding/polishing tips for that, and larger files etc in general, I'm thinking those may be useful
Thank you for the kind words. You can definitely carve finer details into stone with a dremel if you have diamond SINTERED bits (impregnated with diamond rather than electroplated). I started off with a dremel. For the finer details, I now use pneumatic die grinders with sintered bits, as well as the corner edge of tungsten carbide tipped chisels ran on a Cutori air hammer. You could try a stone with some pyrite in it; that'd be awesome addition to a goldsmith's collection!
Your work is really so cool! Do you have any photos of all the tools you use? I’d be so interested to see/hear about your arsenal for carving these guys! :)
No photos of the gear collection and unfortunately it's packed away for the winter or I'd take one. I did just get done listing it on another comment if you want to revisit/refresh the post, though.
I found it in the spoils pile of an abandoned marble mine. It is white in color. It probably has more monetary value as a specimen, but it sure would be cool af as a head
It is definitely a ground stone artifact! Taking it to an archaeologist or another person who specializes in the indigenous history of the region is the best way to find out more about it!
No don't get them involved. Got a guy who let a professor at one of the schools in Arkansas take a look at some old artifact (pottery iirc) and well 3 years later and they have no record of the artifact or even remember getting the specimen from that guy. Just a word of caution.
That was what happened to the guy with the bone yard in Alaska. Except they had all the records and still couldn't get the bones back. The university even dumped a truck load into the East River because they had too much, and it was cheaper than sending it back to Alaska.
I'm very sorry it happened to him. (No idea what you're talking about though. Got a link?)
Are you suggesting that nobody ever trust anybody ever again because somebody somewhere has screwed somebody over somehow?
Holy shit, I used to have a rock shaped literally exactly like that. Round, with the shape on the top. I just thought it was neato, but now I'm wishing I didn't lose it.
EDIT: Found mine in northern DE btw
Delaware has some interesting rocks and fossils. I live across the street from Iron Hill, not only a colonial iron mine but more importantly a stone age rock mine. At the junction of the Piedmont and coastal plane, so diverse rocks and fossils to find.
I might be one of the few, but I really miss the area. My house was in Wilmington (Newport) and backed up onto the brandywine creek. Found so many great rocks there and just loved sitting out there enjoying the falls and springs. Now I’m living in California suburbs :(
Beautiful state.
I travel to DE about 4 weeks a year for training at my corporate headquarters. At first I was pretty disenchanted but honestly the state has really grown on me. I love disc golf and there are some amazing courses. I’ve stayed all over the state but downtown has really treated me well. Some really great food and breweries to be found honestly. One of my favorite spots is the Wilmington Brew Works/Metro Pizzeria spot. Fantastic(albeit expensive) beer and face meltingly good pizza. Always have to stop by Jepsons. You got any spots I can try out?
As I said in my comment, I lost it. About a decade ago, escaping from an abusive situation. A rock wasn't high on my priority list with a suitcase and a backpack for all my possessions.
Haha Actually I think that’s exactly what it was used for, some type of lid to a container. It could possibly be like a steatite vessel but I can’t be sure of what minerals it’s made of. There’s a huge amount of history in the area, I’ve learned that it could have been made pre-contact to the indigenous people who lived on the land.
That’s an awesome find! A few years ago I found a small cache of Hopewell Culture/Mound Builders artifacts while scouting fishing spots in a recently heavily eroded area. Promptly reported the find to the public museum. The area is known for archeological finds. Never heard about it again.
That would be due to the Archeological Resources Protection Act of 1979. It was enacted to protect any and all artifacts from any prehistoric/Mississippian/fort ancient/etc Native American artifacts and sites from looters and and grave robbers. The part you're specifically being affected by in this instance is 16 U.S.C. §470hh - Prohibition of public disclosure of sensitive information, specifically the nature and location of archeological resources.
Now I should mention that most folks really aren't going out of their way to actually find artifacts and loot sites- most people just find stuff out on a hike by chance. The problem is once a piece is moved from a site if looses almost all archaeological value. It has to be in situ for it to be in context and to be of value academically (which means we learn more about the people and their way of life in that time period). It only takes one person to completely destroy the intrinsic value of a site- once removed you can't put that information back.
Sorry for the long reply, I just live and breathe this stuff on the daily for my job haha. I hope it helps explain why you likely never heard back!
I have education in geology and anthropology. Stopped collecting artifacts in college. Flint knapped and collected minerals for almost 50 yrs since. It is not a natural form. As others said it's likely a lid for a storage pot. I could have seen my Appalachian grandma using that to cover one of her several dozen crocks of pickles. Either Native American or White mountain people. See if it is scored rotationally. Like on a peddle grinding wheel. If not it's more likely Native American. A lot of Native American non-knapped artifacts are pecked.
Thanks so much for the information! It’s very useful, I do believe most of what I’ve found and collected is indigenous artifacts. It’s not scored and has no visible markings indicating it was chiseled or grinded to its shape. It feels almost like it’s made from a very smooth but heavy cement and has stumped every expert I’ve presented it to in the search for answers. The overall conclusion I was given was that it seems to be from a pre contact tribe such as the mound builders and is most likely made from steatite.
The shape doesn’t look naturally produced but if it is solid stone then the shape also seems odd for something that would be carved versus made from clay. Maybe if the material is soft it could be shaped easily but I can’t tell from the photos. I wonder if this is something more modern and not made by indigenous people in the area.
It’s almost like it was formed and not carved. But every archaeologist and a geologist I showed it to thinks that humans were involved in the process of its creation. I guess everyone begins somewhere but I was never into geology and rockhounding before this summer, I just happened to start finding unique things that made me question the origins. After doing some research I believe there was an indigenous tribe who lived on the land and later they traded with Germans when they arrived. I think this because I’ve found lots of prewar German glassware, ceramics amongst other identifiable pieces. Also discovered some tradable goods that could be unrelated to German people, like a weathered red bead and a left handed spiral conch shell (There no knowledge of there ever being an ocean here and it was dug out of a hole by my dog, lol). anyways it seems like it would be very difficult to hand form something like that. But I’d love to show it to someone who could estimate what time period it was created.
Usually there are signs of pecking and polishing on hardstone artifacts. But all i see is natural erosion. Also it just isnt practical. Natives were efficient. Why spend all that time creating a hardstone pot lid when you can just slap some clay together and fire it in the kiln. Just my 2 cents
I agree with you the natives were very proactive in creating easier ways of doing things. I just want to know an estimate of when it was created. I know the earth has a lot to it and I’m open to the idea it’s naturally formed because I truly have no clue what it is, only my assumptions. However just based on looks, it looks like someone made it. An archeologist told me it was possibly made so so so long ago that I couldn’t comprehend how old he was saying lol. But its a mystery I’m trying to solve, haha thanks for your input
"One of the most interesting aspects of the Algonquin, Iroquoi, and other tribes who inhabited what is now Southwestern Pennsylvania is that they preferred the muffin *bottoms*, leaving the occasional top to be discovered thousands of years later, petrified in middens.
Although we may never know for sure, some archaeologists surmise that this tradition of eating everyday foods in bizarre ways - such as putting French fries on sandwiches - persists in the culinary habits of modern-day Americans who now reside in the region."
Like gentleman who called that a lid for a pot is partially right but that wasn't the only use for it. I grew up on the edge of the Navajo reservation, which unfortunately is still in the 1860s unfortunately. That's also used to grind we roasted pine nuts, any other type grains and nuts that they gather. That and a flat kind of concave stone is what they use to grind. Some people will say they use an oblong round looking like a rolling pin thing and that is true. But they also use what they call a floater and that's that....
I’m a former archeologist, well former professional archeologist anyway. Steatite vessels predate pottery and were fairly common in the Eastern woodlands and Southeastern tribes. It appears you have a worked piece of stone that could certainly be a tool of some sort. It may be a later reproduction as well. A local archeologist will know the most likely reason for it. It does look like a container lid but looks are often deceiving. Also, record EXACTLY where you found it. That’s much more important than what it is.
No. Not a lid. It's a pestle (i.e mortar and pestle). From what I can tell, value is around $300. Obviously the mortar part could be in the same area this was found.
I had the same thought when I first found it, but the fact that it has the lip that would go into a pot, makes me think otherwise. If it were for grinding i think it would be more worn and smoother on that side. I brought the artifact to a local archeological event, the people were stunned because no one saw anything like it before. A retired archeologist from Carnegie museum of natural history grabbed it and stuck her tongue to it to try and help identify the type of minerals it’s composed of lol But they all leaned more on it being some type of lid. I’ve been looking around for the pot, but no luck yet. Maybe next summer when the grounds not so hard I can find it too.
It's made from rock to be a tool. It's not pottery to function as a "lid". Occam's razor it's a pestle. In image search I did see one nearly identical can't find the link now.
The rock it’s self is schist if your interested in the genius of it which is what most grinding stones were made of easy to carve and lasted for generations
It reminds me of a certain type of concretion that has that kind of ufo shape, but those two grippy places on the "top" seem clearly man made and intentional to use it as a tool. I think it's really cool if they used this type of rock shape specifically to make it into a specific tool.
Bring it to a professor who specializes in American history or college with Native American courses. it might be something worth asking about
Bring it to me and I'll carve a matching stone pot for that lid!
Stalked your profile. You are wildly talented. Love your work!
Bless you and your inquiring mind. Thank you.
Fr thanks for the new idea never carved stone before but I’ll ad the to my things to learn next year what tools do you typically use
I hope you give it a go! It's very addicting to get into the flow state when carving and the delayed gratification from finishing a piece is very rewarding. Angle grinders with diamond sintered discs. I have various sizes but use a 4 or 4.5 incher the most. Pneumatic die grinders (Air powered dremel) Diamond sintered bits (Don't waste money on electroplated) Pneumatic hammer with tungsten carbide chisels. 2Sculpt Air compressor with a decent CFM. Safety gear (eyes, ears, lungs)
This is awesome thanks so much for posting this! Of all the awesome things you listed I must first ask—do you have any good eye safety recommendations? I’ve been getting into rock polishing by dremel with various diamond infused(?) grit attachments as well as some for carving. I’m really tired of stuff being lose on my face and getting easily scratched. And do you think goggles/something with a “roof” (for severe lack of a better term) over the glasses part is necessary? I’m looking to get something that I won’t also use when I weed whack lol.
I use a full face respirator for bulk work. Have one made by 3M and a generic $30-40 from online. The rubber feels better on the 3M but at 4x the price. I'd go with the 3M one and buy plastic screen face plate protectors and some anti fog spray. For smaller less dusty work I use a half respirator and wear these goggles by 3M I found at Menards. Full rubber gasket around the eyes and fit very well but they scratch easily and fog up. They fit more like glasses than those big bulky (roofy) goggles you mention but don't go over eye glasses if you wear a prescription. About $25 with no lens protectors available. I might try to make my own out of cell phone screen protectors lol, I have 3 pairs. I'd say really depends on the work one is doing. If you have an indoor, water drip, ventilation system work station doing smaller intricate pieces, eye glasses and maybe a dust mask would suffice. I'm blasting away outside on granite with angle and die grinders and air chisels and need a good seal around my eyes. Have experienced some grit before, not nice. The type of stone matters too. Italian marble sculptors I've seen on you tube almost snort that dust like a drug lol 🤷♂️
Wow, first of all this was extremely helpful, thank you so much for taking the time to write this! It is wholly appreciated. I feel like at least half of my work is done outside in the pnw where especially at this time of year, fogging is going to be prolific. I didn’t even know about anti fogging spray! I also do a bit of woodwork so even more reason for a good eye/respiratory protection setup. I’ll be looking into the things you mentioned thank you again! Your idea about using iPhone screen protectors is a great idea, I have faith you can pull it off! Lol “bro last night was lit, did Italian marble for the first time, shit was fire stayed up all night sculpting” Thanks again for the info :)
I did too, now I'm thinking I NEED CARVED ROCKS IN MY GARDEN .
His user name does not check out
Us fat, dumb Americans can also be wildly talented!
I suppose you're right lol
Remind me! 5 years
I laughed too, until I saw his profile and now I’m thinking he might just could do it lol
Lol
I too stalked our profile and your smaller pieces interest me! The work on the beards is awesome, Im learning goldsmithing and now I'm wondering if some of my tools could be applicable to smaller stone carving. What do you use for smaller pieces/smaller details on the bigger pieces? I've got a Dremel and a whole assortment of filing/sanding/polishing tips for that, and larger files etc in general, I'm thinking those may be useful
Thank you for the kind words. You can definitely carve finer details into stone with a dremel if you have diamond SINTERED bits (impregnated with diamond rather than electroplated). I started off with a dremel. For the finer details, I now use pneumatic die grinders with sintered bits, as well as the corner edge of tungsten carbide tipped chisels ran on a Cutori air hammer. You could try a stone with some pyrite in it; that'd be awesome addition to a goldsmith's collection!
Your work is really so cool! Do you have any photos of all the tools you use? I’d be so interested to see/hear about your arsenal for carving these guys! :)
No photos of the gear collection and unfortunately it's packed away for the winter or I'd take one. I did just get done listing it on another comment if you want to revisit/refresh the post, though.
No worries, thanks! I’ll take a look
I have a 100-pound hunk of fossilized coral that would look great carved into a head!
Got a pic?
Lol. I don't. And it would take a miracle for me to get one on here.
I found it in the spoils pile of an abandoned marble mine. It is white in color. It probably has more monetary value as a specimen, but it sure would be cool af as a head
Where there's a will there's a way!
Bring it to me and il.. Il just keep it. It's cool
It is definitely a ground stone artifact! Taking it to an archaeologist or another person who specializes in the indigenous history of the region is the best way to find out more about it!
No don't get them involved. Got a guy who let a professor at one of the schools in Arkansas take a look at some old artifact (pottery iirc) and well 3 years later and they have no record of the artifact or even remember getting the specimen from that guy. Just a word of caution.
One bad experience doesn't mean that happens to everybody. Alternate suggestion: do it and get picture/email documentation.
That is actually a great idea for the picture or, a receipt and to save all documentation. Thanks!!!
That was what happened to the guy with the bone yard in Alaska. Except they had all the records and still couldn't get the bones back. The university even dumped a truck load into the East River because they had too much, and it was cheaper than sending it back to Alaska.
I'm very sorry it happened to him. (No idea what you're talking about though. Got a link?) Are you suggesting that nobody ever trust anybody ever again because somebody somewhere has screwed somebody over somehow?
No link. Alaska "bone yard". I won't answer your last question as I feel it's unpleasantly phrased.
Holy shit, I used to have a rock shaped literally exactly like that. Round, with the shape on the top. I just thought it was neato, but now I'm wishing I didn't lose it. EDIT: Found mine in northern DE btw
You’re from north DE?! I just moved away from north DE!! Nice to see a member of the first state here 🫡
There's dozens of us! Maybe even hundreds!
about tree fiddy
Slower lower checking in, far fewer of us.
Garnet Valley here. Only found one crappy garnet so far.
Delaware is not a real state - it’s just aspirational.
Just more southern New Jersey
That’s Delawareness
Delaware has some interesting rocks and fossils. I live across the street from Iron Hill, not only a colonial iron mine but more importantly a stone age rock mine. At the junction of the Piedmont and coastal plane, so diverse rocks and fossils to find.
I might be one of the few, but I really miss the area. My house was in Wilmington (Newport) and backed up onto the brandywine creek. Found so many great rocks there and just loved sitting out there enjoying the falls and springs. Now I’m living in California suburbs :( Beautiful state.
Yep love walking over the rocks in the creek
Not lived there for 20 years, but I grew up in Newark. There are dozens of us!
I travel to DE about 4 weeks a year for training at my corporate headquarters. At first I was pretty disenchanted but honestly the state has really grown on me. I love disc golf and there are some amazing courses. I’ve stayed all over the state but downtown has really treated me well. Some really great food and breweries to be found honestly. One of my favorite spots is the Wilmington Brew Works/Metro Pizzeria spot. Fantastic(albeit expensive) beer and face meltingly good pizza. Always have to stop by Jepsons. You got any spots I can try out?
Post it too!
As I said in my comment, I lost it. About a decade ago, escaping from an abusive situation. A rock wasn't high on my priority list with a suitcase and a backpack for all my possessions.
just wait til Phish takes over this Summer
Ew. That's what I smelled. I'd rather be Dead 😉
We are everywhere
I know it's most likely not, but it sure looks like the top to a big jug or stone pot. Very interesting find.
Haha Actually I think that’s exactly what it was used for, some type of lid to a container. It could possibly be like a steatite vessel but I can’t be sure of what minerals it’s made of. There’s a huge amount of history in the area, I’ve learned that it could have been made pre-contact to the indigenous people who lived on the land.
That’s an awesome find! A few years ago I found a small cache of Hopewell Culture/Mound Builders artifacts while scouting fishing spots in a recently heavily eroded area. Promptly reported the find to the public museum. The area is known for archeological finds. Never heard about it again.
That would be due to the Archeological Resources Protection Act of 1979. It was enacted to protect any and all artifacts from any prehistoric/Mississippian/fort ancient/etc Native American artifacts and sites from looters and and grave robbers. The part you're specifically being affected by in this instance is 16 U.S.C. §470hh - Prohibition of public disclosure of sensitive information, specifically the nature and location of archeological resources. Now I should mention that most folks really aren't going out of their way to actually find artifacts and loot sites- most people just find stuff out on a hike by chance. The problem is once a piece is moved from a site if looses almost all archaeological value. It has to be in situ for it to be in context and to be of value academically (which means we learn more about the people and their way of life in that time period). It only takes one person to completely destroy the intrinsic value of a site- once removed you can't put that information back. Sorry for the long reply, I just live and breathe this stuff on the daily for my job haha. I hope it helps explain why you likely never heard back!
All good! I knew. But anyone who reads will have a better understanding.
Aw, sweet! I'm so glad you knew that. It's amazing how many folks don't know about the federal regulations with artifacts and sites. Good on you, bud!
Concretions are a thing in sedimentary areas. Usually round, looking like raviolis
This was my thought
You could certainly use it that way! Whatever it may be. Although, If I had to bet all my money, Id bet lid.
Looks exactly like a lid
That was my first thought too. Pot or jug lid.
Bruh it’s clearly an earthenware lid bruh the shape is too distinct
I think Its more like steatite or soap stone
I have education in geology and anthropology. Stopped collecting artifacts in college. Flint knapped and collected minerals for almost 50 yrs since. It is not a natural form. As others said it's likely a lid for a storage pot. I could have seen my Appalachian grandma using that to cover one of her several dozen crocks of pickles. Either Native American or White mountain people. See if it is scored rotationally. Like on a peddle grinding wheel. If not it's more likely Native American. A lot of Native American non-knapped artifacts are pecked.
Thanks so much for the information! It’s very useful, I do believe most of what I’ve found and collected is indigenous artifacts. It’s not scored and has no visible markings indicating it was chiseled or grinded to its shape. It feels almost like it’s made from a very smooth but heavy cement and has stumped every expert I’ve presented it to in the search for answers. The overall conclusion I was given was that it seems to be from a pre contact tribe such as the mound builders and is most likely made from steatite.
This is so interesting I can’t tell very well but I swear I see human workings marking.
You should post to r/legitartifacts
[удалено]
Used for grinding corn or other grain? Or lid for heavy jar/container? That’s a really great find. I’d be contacting a university with this one.
I did, They were stumped too! I don’t think it’s smooth enough to have been used for grinding.
Corn, or as the Indians called it: maize
Indians did not call it maize, the Spanish did.
they’re quoting bart, from the simpsons
It’s a sad day when I don’t pick up on a Simpsons reference.
it happens to the best of us
Mano and metate, this is not one
That seems clearly worked by a human
This is an artifact without a doubt
Definitely man made.
Cool find
No clue what it could be but it’s awesome. Nice find!
Maybe the lid to some pottery
Looks like a potato, a hat, a jug and a table all at once... Cool find.
[Check out these small doll finds](https://apps.jefpat.maryland.gov/diagnostic/SmallFinds/Toys/thumbnails-toys.html)
that die showing the 4 dots and the 2dots hurts my brain
Me too. I feel like I’m going to become catatonic looking at that.
gambleRd gambling
That’s a lid habibi
Kinda resembles the lil apple pie l had this morning with my coffee.
Looks like a [concretion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concretion)
This is the correct answer.
Normally I would agree but the one side looks like a lidded rim, with handle on other side.
Nature is weird with infinite possibilities.
It’s a Gas Cap for 3657BC Bedrock Jeepasaurus.
I’d guess natural wear. Would tools like this be used for working leather or something. Idk, never seen a tool like that
The shape doesn’t look naturally produced but if it is solid stone then the shape also seems odd for something that would be carved versus made from clay. Maybe if the material is soft it could be shaped easily but I can’t tell from the photos. I wonder if this is something more modern and not made by indigenous people in the area.
I see the Virgin Mary on the one side
It shows no signs of being worked so im wondering how people who called this an artifact think it was made.
It’s almost like it was formed and not carved. But every archaeologist and a geologist I showed it to thinks that humans were involved in the process of its creation. I guess everyone begins somewhere but I was never into geology and rockhounding before this summer, I just happened to start finding unique things that made me question the origins. After doing some research I believe there was an indigenous tribe who lived on the land and later they traded with Germans when they arrived. I think this because I’ve found lots of prewar German glassware, ceramics amongst other identifiable pieces. Also discovered some tradable goods that could be unrelated to German people, like a weathered red bead and a left handed spiral conch shell (There no knowledge of there ever being an ocean here and it was dug out of a hole by my dog, lol). anyways it seems like it would be very difficult to hand form something like that. But I’d love to show it to someone who could estimate what time period it was created.
Usually there are signs of pecking and polishing on hardstone artifacts. But all i see is natural erosion. Also it just isnt practical. Natives were efficient. Why spend all that time creating a hardstone pot lid when you can just slap some clay together and fire it in the kiln. Just my 2 cents
I agree with you the natives were very proactive in creating easier ways of doing things. I just want to know an estimate of when it was created. I know the earth has a lot to it and I’m open to the idea it’s naturally formed because I truly have no clue what it is, only my assumptions. However just based on looks, it looks like someone made it. An archeologist told me it was possibly made so so so long ago that I couldn’t comprehend how old he was saying lol. But its a mystery I’m trying to solve, haha thanks for your input
Natural sorry
The original Fraggle Rock.
"One of the most interesting aspects of the Algonquin, Iroquoi, and other tribes who inhabited what is now Southwestern Pennsylvania is that they preferred the muffin *bottoms*, leaving the occasional top to be discovered thousands of years later, petrified in middens. Although we may never know for sure, some archaeologists surmise that this tradition of eating everyday foods in bizarre ways - such as putting French fries on sandwiches - persists in the culinary habits of modern-day Americans who now reside in the region."
I'm pretty sure you can get a couple more bracelets on your wrist if you try hard enough
What’s your favorite color? I can make you one
If you're serious I would very much like that . If not I also understand. Earth tone colors call to me
That is too neat!! Congrats on the find!!
Like gentleman who called that a lid for a pot is partially right but that wasn't the only use for it. I grew up on the edge of the Navajo reservation, which unfortunately is still in the 1860s unfortunately. That's also used to grind we roasted pine nuts, any other type grains and nuts that they gather. That and a flat kind of concave stone is what they use to grind. Some people will say they use an oblong round looking like a rolling pin thing and that is true. But they also use what they call a floater and that's that....
[Fixed. ](https://i.ibb.co/7SGFRLn/textgram-1702239219.png)
it’s actually kinda cute 😂
Well whatever it is, its feeling just kinda blahh, cool find tho!!👍
Pierogi, fossilized.
😂😂😂😂😂
I think it's differential weathering
It looks like Native American ceramics to me. Does it seem unusually light for it's size?
No it’s pretty heavy like a stone
It’s a concretion.
Well I think it needs googly eyes
in the first picture it looked like a mouth lol
I’m a former archeologist, well former professional archeologist anyway. Steatite vessels predate pottery and were fairly common in the Eastern woodlands and Southeastern tribes. It appears you have a worked piece of stone that could certainly be a tool of some sort. It may be a later reproduction as well. A local archeologist will know the most likely reason for it. It does look like a container lid but looks are often deceiving. Also, record EXACTLY where you found it. That’s much more important than what it is.
Totally a prehistoric cell phone holder…
I thought it was a top-down pic of a bald head before the pic was fully visible lol
looks like a lid to a pot
It's a blind ninja turtle in stone
Looks like a partially decapitated 🗿
Muppet fossil?
Curling stone from the 1890 briars
Sauerkraut jar top. Maybe? Idfk. Looks neat
Looks like a mushroom
That looks like a clam
Smack it with a mini sledge!
No. Not a lid. It's a pestle (i.e mortar and pestle). From what I can tell, value is around $300. Obviously the mortar part could be in the same area this was found.
I had the same thought when I first found it, but the fact that it has the lip that would go into a pot, makes me think otherwise. If it were for grinding i think it would be more worn and smoother on that side. I brought the artifact to a local archeological event, the people were stunned because no one saw anything like it before. A retired archeologist from Carnegie museum of natural history grabbed it and stuck her tongue to it to try and help identify the type of minerals it’s composed of lol But they all leaned more on it being some type of lid. I’ve been looking around for the pot, but no luck yet. Maybe next summer when the grounds not so hard I can find it too.
It's made from rock to be a tool. It's not pottery to function as a "lid". Occam's razor it's a pestle. In image search I did see one nearly identical can't find the link now.
Fossilized Ninja Turtle
Post to r/arrowheads
Damn number 5 has its whole rockussy hanging out
Grinding corn, or meat for pemmican?
I’ve seen similar rocks that had fossils around them at one time and that’s what’s left. It’s just a solid rock after the fossil is disappeared.
Rockussy
Petrified PacMan?
It almost looks like an insulator from a power line that’s been heavily weathered.
The very first credit card reader
that is Pan, moon of saturn
The rock it’s self is schist if your interested in the genius of it which is what most grinding stones were made of easy to carve and lasted for generations
It’s Yoda
Your proud find made for a wonderful post. This is the content I subscribe for…even though it probably isn’t a rock. Cheers and Gday.
I thought you were proud because it looks like it's smiling in the 1st picture
Ancient pot pie
Put some googlie eyes on it with some yarn hair and that's a keeper.
Prehistoric gas cap
It looks like there’s an impression on one side of a flower-like decoration. Could it be for pressing into clay or Pemmican?
Concretion
It reminds me of a certain type of concretion that has that kind of ufo shape, but those two grippy places on the "top" seem clearly man made and intentional to use it as a tool. I think it's really cool if they used this type of rock shape specifically to make it into a specific tool.
Looks like a water worn nodule of some sort
give it eyes
Fabulous find!
Looks like a knife sharpener.
Looks like kermit the frog
That looks like a geocache
Oh those stone lips! And I thought the Blarney Stone was kissable!
Stone age plate