|
Post by orrum on Nov 27, 2017 17:41:07 GMT -5
This is Arlen's sphere I am posting for him. He will give you all the details. It's vera interesting!
|
|
|
Post by orrum on Nov 27, 2017 17:53:21 GMT -5
Here is the sphere pic. Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by radio on Nov 27, 2017 18:21:48 GMT -5
Thanks for the rescue Bill! I still can not get pics off my phone to the computer An old Farmer who lives in N.E Missouri very near the Iowa border stopped by shop today with an unusual stone he found on his farm. At first impression I thought it to be stream tumbled granite, but then remembering his farm is the site of a permanent Indian encampment, it occurred to me to ask if he found and similar stones of any shape or size in. or near the place he found this one. He has never seen any similar material on his farm, so I began to suspect it is an artifact, possibly a game ball of some type. It is nearly perfectly round and is loaded with what appears to be very tiny quartz crystals and a metallic mineral of some type, possibly Pyrite. I touched it to the 200 wheel and it is amazingly hard and the metallic crystals do not shine like most Pyrite I have cut. He mentioned he was walking along and spotted the glitter in it and thought it was a cool and unusual stone, so picked it up. I told that if in fact it is an artifact, a Native American likely was fascinated by the glitter also and worked it into a sphere. It is roughly 4 inches in diameter and is very heavy for it's size. Any input or thoughts are appreciated By the way, he gifted it to me, so it will now have a special place in my displays, be it an artifact, or just a rock!
|
|
|
Post by radio on Nov 28, 2017 7:43:33 GMT -5
After extensive Google search, it appears to be either a game ball, or hammer stone as I found a pic of one very similar from Illinois which is just across the river from the spot this was found. Due to the nearly perfect roundness, my money is on game ball. He did say he has found many other round stones the size of walnuts. I would love to spend a day or three walking his farm! Tommy @ Rockjunquie maybe move this to the "Fossils and Artifacts" section? Edit: link to site containing the Illinois artifacts lithiccastinglab.com/gallery-pages/2006octoberhammerstonespage2.htm
|
|
Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
|
Post by Sabre52 on Nov 28, 2017 8:28:33 GMT -5
Yep, looks like a artifact I've seen before all right, especially if the rock is not local. We used to have similar stone balls that occurred naturally in the Ventura and Santa Clara Rivers but they were local sandstone and not man made but your piece sure looks man made to me. I'd guess game ball too as a hammer stone would have more percussive damage and most I've found tend to be a bit more pointed or egg shaped.......Mel
|
|
|
Post by radio on Nov 28, 2017 20:06:04 GMT -5
Yep, looks like a artifact I've seen before all right, especially if the rock is not local. We used to have similar stone balls that occurred naturally in the Ventura and Santa Clara Rivers but they were local sandstone and not man made but your piece sure looks man made to me. I'd guess game ball too as a hammer stone would have more percussive damage and most I've found tend to be a bit more pointed or egg shaped.......Mel Thanks Mel. He said he has found many walnut sized round rocks, but of a different stone than this one. He has given me a paint pot trip before this and has brought several items in to show me including a gorgeous plummet! I sure would like to spend a day or three walking his farm!
|
|
fishnpinball
Cave Dweller
So much to learn, so little time
Member since March 2017
Posts: 1,491
|
Post by fishnpinball on Nov 29, 2017 15:44:02 GMT -5
Cool artifact.
|
|
fishnpinball
Cave Dweller
So much to learn, so little time
Member since March 2017
Posts: 1,491
|
Post by fishnpinball on Nov 29, 2017 15:45:26 GMT -5
The easiest way to get pictures from a camera to your computer without doing anything fancy is email.
|
|
|
Post by radio on Nov 29, 2017 15:52:53 GMT -5
The easiest way to get pictures from a camera to your computer without doing anything fancy is email. I have given up on the e mail method as Google will no longer allow me to open a pic in my e mail and do the "save as" trick. I may resort to opening an account with another e mail provider just so I can save pics
|
|
minerken
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2013
Posts: 466
|
Post by minerken on Nov 29, 2017 16:05:50 GMT -5
I use a third party client Thunderbird synced to my google account works well
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2017 21:42:51 GMT -5
The easiest way to get pictures from a camera to your computer without doing anything fancy is email. I have given up on the e mail method as Google will no longer allow me to open a pic in my e mail and do the "save as" trick.  I may resort to opening an account with another e mail provider just so I can save pics No, but there is a download button on the file attached for he email. You have a choice to open or download. At least I do....
|
|
wampidytoo
has rocks in the head
Add 5016 to my post count.
Member since June 2013
Posts: 709
|
Post by wampidytoo on Nov 30, 2017 7:03:26 GMT -5
I have a similar stone in the rough, not round that came from not too far away.
My daughter goes to Sturgis SD for the bike rally most summers and tent camps in an old timer's yard. He gave her a stone to give to me that came from Mount Rushmore back when you could get close enough to pick up the rubble. It looks like clear and milky quartz with a lot of pyrite in it.
I will do a search for a photo and if that doesn't work I will see if I still have it. I have been lightening my load so that is a fifty, fifty. Jim
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Nov 30, 2017 7:50:38 GMT -5
I'm going to move this for you, Arlen.
|
|
|
Post by radio on Nov 30, 2017 8:23:14 GMT -5
I have a similar stone in the rough, not round that came from not too far away. My daughter goes to Sturgis SD for the bike rally most summers and tent camps in an old timer's yard. He gave her a stone to give to me that came from Mount Rushmore back when you could get close enough to pick up the rubble. It looks like clear and milky quartz with a lot of pyrite in it. I will do a search for a photo and if that doesn't work I will see if I still have it. I have been lightening my load so that is a fifty, fifty. Jim It would be interesting to know where this ball came from! From what I can tell, there are no Granite areas like this anywhere near where this was found. Someone either traveled a long ways and toted it back, or traded for it or the material, then shaped it. I can see where an ancient person would be intrigued by the sparkles in the stone and want to fashion something out of it, possibly as a status symbol. The sparkles caught the farmers eye, or it would have been left lying there for eternity
|
|
|
Post by radio on Nov 30, 2017 8:24:01 GMT -5
I'm going to move this for you, Arlen. Thanks Tela!~
|
|
wampidytoo
has rocks in the head
Add 5016 to my post count.
Member since June 2013
Posts: 709
|
Post by wampidytoo on Nov 30, 2017 9:55:47 GMT -5
In the photos it doesn't look very close but in person I believe it could be a match. There is an abundance of pyrite and in hand it looks a lot whiter with a granite texture. I have not researched the Mount Rushmore stone but there may be better photos on the net. Jim
|
|
|
Post by radio on Nov 30, 2017 19:53:01 GMT -5
In the photos it doesn't look very close but in person I believe it could be a match. There is an abundance of pyrite and in hand it looks a lot whiter with a granite texture. I have not researched the Mount Rushmore stone but there may be better photos on the net. Jim Hmmm, could be. Thanks for posting those! It would be fascinating to know the history of this ball and how it ended up abandoned in N.E Missouri!
|
|
|
Post by orrum on Nov 30, 2017 20:13:44 GMT -5
Arlen try Photo Resizer. It's a App that you easily size your pics and also it stores the pics on your phone on your sd card.
|
|
|
Post by fernwood on Nov 30, 2017 22:11:36 GMT -5
have seen many similar pieces in Wisconsin that are called game balls. Also some round stones were used for grinding. Grinding balls vary from about 1" to 3:" around here and to the NW. Many Natives traveled great distances trading items. A great example are the Hixton Quartzite points that are found around the country. Pieces like this are sometimes considered net weights, as well. The round stones would be enclosed in woven wood or string, attached to a fishing net to keep one edge on the bottom. Third possibility was as a stone used in some type of ritual. Fourth is as a status symbol, decoration, or as a decoration for the top of a staff.
|
|
|
Post by grumpybill on Nov 30, 2017 23:10:06 GMT -5
So...the early settlers in North America played bocce?
|
|