Posted 13 years ago
John50049
(1 item)
This is a rock that was found near the Des Moines River in Iowa near Tracy Iowa. It fits in your hand as I am holding it with groves your fingers fit in and when held in the right hand the thumb fits on a spot that feels like it was worn down by thumbs of hands using it or purposely worn to fit the thumb. 2 suggestions are as a palm protector when starting a fire with a stick or a little hand held bowl for grinding something. I have some more pictures I can post of the back and bottom side when I find them. I sure would like to know what it is and what it might be worth. When I can I will post more pics. Any info anyone can give me would be great. Thanks for looking. John
It looks like what you've got is a small mortar, which would have been used with a pestle to grind a range of materials - pigments, food items, etc.
Chadakoin - do you know if it is worth anything or are they a common find?
it would appear to be pressure stone or palm protector use when starting fires are you familiar with the ' bow string ' method . another way you can tell is if there is any charcole or soot residue staining the stone. I have a few although mine are much smaller, portability being a factor. However I also have several small morters so it's a toss up as to which it is? Soot like I said is a good determining factor.