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Indian Stone. Paint mortar ? | Popular items this month1 of 1884 |  |  |
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Posted 7 months ago
JSmed
(64 items)
Found this potato size smooth stone at a local yard sale. Probably was found around here in Adams county Wis. The yard sale was right near the Wisconsin River in Dellwood Wis. where many artifacts are found. Not sure of the use or age but have seen similar items labeled as Paint mortar stones from a few hundred years ago.
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I think paint palette is a good guess. :)
this is curious. my folks found one of these when I was a kid, but the neatest thing was that there was a perfectly round rock that sat in the culled-out area. Would anyone know what the round rock was for. maybe some sort of 'mortar & pestle' thing for herbs...medicine? Any info would be great.
We can now and again find these around the place here in New Zealand..here is a link to what they were used here for...:-)
http://www.nzmuseums.co.nz/account/3023/object/628/Maori_grinding_stone
i have several 'paint mortars' from california. these were used to crush ochre, charcoal, berries and other plant material to make body paints. sort of an old-fashioned make-up kit. someday, i'll post some photos of mine.