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Does anyone know what the flint stone is? Indian tool? Need indian history buffs...
River gravel | 3 December 2021 | Mene Mene Tekel Upharsin

Posted on 12/03/2021 3:32:40 PM PST by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

Anyone know for what this stone was used? It's flint, and that hole did not get put there by water. A friend thinks it's either a fire starter or grain/herb pestle. Anyone able to help? Thanks in advance.


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; History; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: flint; flintstones; godsgravesglyphs; indian; stone; tool
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

An interesting rock.

I’ve seen quite a few real artifacts and stream worn rocks in my life in ID and AK, and to me this strongly resembles the latter.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but it looks a bit too large to hold in one hand, which would rule out the great majority of human uses.

The hole is waaaay too narrow to be a pestle, not to mention a pestle shouldn’t have a through-and-through hole in the first place..

I’ve seen plenty of rocks with much larger and/or more symmetrical holes in streams that were clearly naturally occurring; that rock is easily within the realm of what water can do. The lack of symmetry strongly argues against a rotational use such as firestarting, as does the angle against the surface of the hole (should be near perfectly square).

I hate to say it, but given the awkward size/shape for handling and lack of rough symmetry, my money would be on a natural (non-human) origin for that rock. I’ve seen quite a few natural origin rocks that looked more “made” than that.

Put differently: I can assert with 100% confidence that that shape is completely within the realm of natural origin, while simultaneously seeing no compelling evidence of human workmanship…


21 posted on 12/03/2021 4:02:15 PM PST by verum ago (Some people must truly be in love, for only love can be so blind. Too cynical..?)
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To: daifu

It’s flint, not limestone.


22 posted on 12/03/2021 4:03:47 PM PST by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: Seruzawa

Best.answer.ever.

Ok, 42 is the best answer, but this is close.


23 posted on 12/03/2021 4:04:00 PM PST by Liaison (TANSTAAFL)
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To: Yo-Yo

Yeah, I think it was used as a fire starter.


24 posted on 12/03/2021 4:04:37 PM PST by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: Craftmore
fire starter used with a bow

I'd have to agree.

25 posted on 12/03/2021 4:05:11 PM PST by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

Paleolithic Ring Doorbell


26 posted on 12/03/2021 4:07:59 PM PST by Tijeras_Slim
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To: OldWarBaby
OldWarBaby :" .. Looks like an Atlatyl——made to help chuck a spear."

I agree
although I would use the term :" banner stone".
It is used on a spear shaft to add heft/weight to the spear to assure a deeper puncture to the hunted animal.
A projectile point on the tip of an unweighted spear might not even puncture the animal hide,
but just create a superficial wound and bounce off.

27 posted on 12/03/2021 4:08:02 PM PST by Tilted Irish Kilt
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

It’s an early fertility idol. See the hole?


28 posted on 12/03/2021 4:09:12 PM PST by CJ Wolf ( what is scarier than offensive words? Not being able to say them. )
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To: CJ Wolf

Come on guys, seriously? I honestly thought it was an indian tool of some kind. I’ve never seen that kind of hole in flint rocks. Ever.


29 posted on 12/03/2021 4:11:30 PM PST by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

The Indians had a very advanced culture.

This is an Indian version of a laptop computer.

That, or fossilized bear crap.


30 posted on 12/03/2021 4:12:00 PM PST by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer”)
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
**used as a fire starter**

How long do you think it took natives to figure out it would be easier to use/carry a rawhide pad vs lugging around a rock?

31 posted on 12/03/2021 4:13:51 PM PST by Deaf Smith (When a Texan takes his chances, chances will be taken that's for sure.)
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To: Deaf Smith

You beat me too it.


32 posted on 12/03/2021 4:13:53 PM PST by CJ Wolf ( what is scarier than offensive words? Not being able to say them. )
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

It looks like a mounting stone. When North American tribes raided each other and kidnapped their women they used stones like the one you have to relieve their amorous condition.


33 posted on 12/03/2021 4:14:40 PM PST by Sawdring
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

I think it was likly worn around the neck with a corded Buffalo skin. If you had one the women would know you could start a fire. Where did you find it?


34 posted on 12/03/2021 4:16:12 PM PST by CJ Wolf ( what is scarier than offensive words? Not being able to say them. )
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

Looks a lot like a net weight they would use them to hold down nets they would stretch out for a long length and run animals into the net, the weight would hold the net enough to keep an animal from running thru or under it. They also used them in water but most weights for fishing are well made if not sort of fancy looking.


35 posted on 12/03/2021 4:16:12 PM PST by 4bye4
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

It was used as a balance stone on an atlatl.


36 posted on 12/03/2021 4:26:08 PM PST by hinckley buzzard ( Resist the narrative.)
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To: CJ Wolf
Where did you find it?

My driveway here in Texas is very long and is an oilfield road to the pumpjack pad. They bring in river gravel every now and then to spread on the driveway. The rock is from that gravel that was put on the driveway. Since it is from a river gravel pit, most likely was an indian campsite dug up somewhere. Pit operator is not going to report that.

37 posted on 12/03/2021 4:26:38 PM PST by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: hinckley buzzard

Too big.


38 posted on 12/03/2021 4:34:46 PM PST by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
maybe find a prehistoric rock quarry expert ?


39 posted on 12/03/2021 4:36:56 PM PST by algore
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

Bowl for a fire starter. It’s the wrong color to be flint, and also is not hard enough.


40 posted on 12/03/2021 4:38:45 PM PST by Real Cynic No More (Make America Great. Prosecute Dems who break the law!)
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