I don't know what it is

by Antoinette

This is it

Found somewhere east. Haven't found anyone who knows what it is. Can you help?

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Nov 03, 2014

Pestle
by: Jacki

I'm thinking that it's a pestle for grinding corn or grains, and it's most likely very old, something that the native people would have used.

The other part of it would have been a hollow log, most likely poplar because of its fine grain and ease of carving. In some cases a flattish rock would have been the mortar part, but in the intervening years they've been separated. Someone somewhere has an oddly shaped hollowed rock...

A long stick would have been in the hole in the end and the user (most likely a woman) would have stood and plunged this up and down to crush the corn to powder.

Do a web search for 'grinding corn with pestle and mortar native people' and see what comes up. Keep in mind that these are one of a kind items, so you'll never find the exact one but there are some that are very close.

Good luck with it!

Feb 16, 2015

Is it stone or metal?
by: Sam

It looks very much like an exploded Civil War era mortar shell. They were made of iron, so have a rusty, stone-like look. The hole is where explosives were packed.

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What is this

Hi, I know some one who found a large or huge pestle looking object that's about 15 inches and has rounded bottom. However, this pestle looking thing had about a 5 inch hole drilled through it going down the shaft. What could this be and used for? Also it weighs about 17 lbs. and the hole through the center is perfectly round and goes down the shaft. Stone looks to be a type of granite.

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Nov 02, 2014

Where's the picture?
by: Jacki

As you've sent no picture of this object, it's hard to imagine what it looks like, even with your great description.

You didn't say what area you're from, which could give a clue to local industries where this thing could be used.

What you describe sounds almost like a counterweight or pendulum for a larger piece of machinery, but I don't have a clue what that would be.

Nov 02, 2014

Oops
by: Anonymous

Believe it's from some where east maybe one of the Carolina's.

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