I was hiking with my Gal in the Argonne National Forest. This is full of white deer and original forests. They did original research here on nuclear reactions. There is a large plaque buried in the woods. There is a local story that the white tailed deer were brought in to be tested for radiation, dont know for sure. The white tailed deer used to come down our street. During the winter they would go into our backyard and butt the bird feeders and eat the seeds. Oh well, I am wandering. This is just outside of Burr Ridge Illinois, USA. For some reason as we were crossing a dry creekbed, something caught my eye. It was this stone, so I picked it up. It is really amazing, a dry creekbed is ALL stone, so why did this one catch my eye? Maybe because the color was different because it came from a different place.
By the color it seems to have copper and other metals in it.
This is about 3 inches at widest, and fits comfortable between thumb and forefinger.
This picture shows a cutting edge and a deep groove. I speculate the groove was used for work such as scraping bowstrings and thread for sewing. The edge used for scraping hides. This shows a break on stone on left, accidental? Or to create a sharper cutting edge? The top is worn where your thumb would have grasped the top of the tool.
Here the other side the wear is in a graceful curve where your forefinger would have curled around it.
Obviously, this had to predate the use of metal here in North America, because metal would be obiously superior for these tasks. I am convinced this is an ancient tool and feel privileged to own it. I feel that from the wear of the thumb and forfinger that it may have been used by more than one generation.
I havnt had this dated, it could be as late as the 1500's or as early as you could imagine.
I have a certain mystical feeling about my stone. This ancient tool being found less than a mile from a plaque reading that early nuclear experiments were held there. A convergence of mankind's technology so to speak. Often, when I am agitated, I get up and hold this stone, reaching across time for some peace and understanding.
