Ancient Tool Or Just A Rock????? Tell me what you think...
By Nykkee
@Nykkee (2522)
Canada
October 25, 2007 6:44am CST
One day when I was going for a walk on the beach with my husband, looking for sea shells and beach glass, we came across this oddly shaped rock. It has white coral on it indicateing that it was in the sea for a long time. It is shaped as if it could have been carved to that shape and I think it looks like it could have been a stone dagger, worn down by years in the sea. Or it could also be a tool used for crushing herbs, etc. I have shown it to many people but as of yet, no professionals. Many people think it is just a rock that happened to break off into a shape resembleing a tool. I think that is unlikely. I think it is an artifact. I am attaching a picture of it. Once someone responds, if requested I can also attach a picutre of it in my hand, to give perspective on the size. Please let me know what you think this is. I am thinking of taking it to a museum to be examined but I don't want to look like a fool if it is just a rock.
3 responses
@uath13 (8192)
• United States
25 Oct 07
Well it does look interesting. It dosen't seem to show signs of being napped. ( the process where stone age people flaked & shaped stones into tools ) This kind of stone wouldn't have been used as a knife as it wouldn't hold an edge like other rocks. Its possible that it was a naturally shaped stone that was found & then used as a tool & has been worn down into its present shape through use. It could also just be a stone that has been polished by the action of the water. From a picture I couldn't tell which. You should show it to someone with some experience.
1 person likes this
@Nykkee (2522)
• Canada
25 Oct 07
Well I thought that it may have ben a blade at some time and had been worn down in the water, and also that the water would have worn away the marks that would have been left from it being carved. The white on it is coral and the dark spots almost look like rust stains. I want to take it to the local natural history museum and ask them to look at it.
@uath13 (8192)
• United States
25 Oct 07
I can definently say it wasn't napped. It would have had multiple planes from the chipping process that wouldn't have worn down that smoothly. If it is a tool it's a pick up tool where they found an appropriatly shaped rock & just put it to use. Repeated use would have shaped it further & then the water erosion smothed it out even more. I seriously doubt it would be worth much but you never know.
1 person likes this
@theprogamer (10532)
• United States
27 Oct 07
That might have been an ancient tool (flint) but doesn't seem like it was a weapon. The size of it compared to your hand makes it seem similar to flint used for tinder and fire. Especially with the way your holding it, that's the picture I got from it. It may also be a natural worn rock since due to the rounding, a sign of some water based erosion. You said you found it on the beach right, seems to fit the observation. Though I could be wrong, and the image looks like it, the rock could be granite and granite is known for being conducive to erosion over eons of time.
If it was a tool, there is still a possibility due to variables like land formations , glaciers (some of them over the current coast line) during the Ice Age, the development of humankind at the time.
1 person likes this
@vicki2876 (5636)
• Canada
25 Oct 07
I collect the shells and glass too and have found many strange things on the beach too. But usually mine are just bones, or junk of some kind. It wouldn't hurt to get it checked out though, you never know. It would be cool if it is eh?
1 person likes this
@Nykkee (2522)
• Canada
25 Oct 07
Well i know it's kind of unrealistic but part of me is really hopeing that it's an artifact and worth some $$$. Even if it's just a rock I still thinkit is cool and will keep it. But it would be so great if it was actually something that was worth something. I just think it is too much like the shape of a tool to have just occured naturally.
