found what looks like a socket for a drill,

[rockhoppernc]

Hello,
Well First post and my best find ever,
looks like a socket for a drill. it has 2 holes all the way through and a little 3rd spot started.

[rockhoppernc]

[rockhoppernc]

Anyone have an idea on how long it would take to drill a hole in this rock? much less 2 holes?

[arappaho]

That is what it looks like, rockhopper , and it's a pretty amazing
rock. Nice find! But those things are made by Mother Nature so you
can't call it an artifact.
As with many of Mother Natures' creations it's hard to wrap your
brain around how she did it, but somehow a rock or pebble, in this
case two, got caught in some small indentations in the rock and
then were rolled around and around by water current, slowly
creating those holes, until they were pushed out of the holes by
something or worked their way thru the bottom. In this case it
looks like they worked their way thru and out the bottom.
The old time agate marble makers of Kentucky and elsewhere
would polish their marbles using the same forces of nature. They
would grind down their marbles as much as they could and then
find a spot in a creek where they could safely stash them and let
the water put a finish tumble polish on them.
Unbelievable, yes, but such is nature.
It's a keeper as a great example of the process.

Thanks for the pics and Happy Hunting,
Joe

[rockhoppernc]

thank you but I dont know if I think that is how they were made, I might just be me but there are char marks/ brown inside the small spot and on the bottom edge of the 2 big holes.....

[arappaho]

Well you may be right, rockhopper. The holes are very identical.
I just can't think of any purpose for it. Maybe the end hole could've
been used to lash the thing in place and the other as a socket.
If that's the case it's a very unique piece. One of a kind.
It will have to be looked at by an expert. I'm guessing you are in the
mountain area of NC, so would suggest the archaeology departments
at Warren Wilson or Western Carolina at Cullowhee. If you are
closer to Winston-Salem, their arch dept would be good.
I would be very interested in what you find out.

Joe

[colorshapetexture]

O boy ... I get to take a WAG at it......
Ready?
LOL
It's a very old if not ancient fire starter.
The middle hole looks more worn/polished, so that is the one you put the friction stick in.
The hole on the end is where you put the tender.
Either bow or hand spin the friction stick with the stone between the feet. With tender underneath. As the holes would allow for draft/oxygen.
Check the center hole. See if its more polished?

[Ryan]

Hmm, I didnt think of that CST, thats a darn good guess. I was thinking maybe this rock sat beneath a stalagtite or some other formation that dripped water on it for a few millenia. But I really like the fire starter idea.

Like Joe said though, a lot of rocks that appear to have been altered by human hands are sometimes just the product of mother natures various amazing abilities.

[arappaho]

Excellent Idea there, CST! And that would probably actually work!
A fire starter with self loading tender chamber. What will they think
of next?!
I was thinking it might be a socket for the mass production of
banner stones or atlatl weights given the size of the holes.
I agree, the center hole does look more polished than the side one.

There are only two ways, that I know of, that were used to drill
holes in rock. A stone drill and reed with sand. A stone drill will
create a tapered hole much like we see here, but will leave tell-tale
signs in the sides of the hole. The reed and sand method creates a
very straight sided cylinder. Of course both types of drilled holes
could be altered from use. And that's the main point. If this is an
artifact, then there will be some sort of tell-tale "use-wear" markings
on it somewhere that a professional should be able to see, fairly
easily, with some magnification. I can't see anything definite from
the pictures.
If it is an artifact, it's the first one I've ever seen like it. On the other
hand, I have seen many such stones wrought by nature.
I can only highly suggest that Rockhopper takes this somewhere to
be examined by professionals. Very curious.

Joe

[rockhoppernc]

well both of the big hole are the same smoothness on the inside.
there is some light staining of what looks like could be blood/ from fire making or what ever it was used for. anyone know someone I can call around Asheville?

[arappaho]

There is an Anthropology Dept at UNC-Asheville, but I don't know if
there is anyone there that could help you. Maybe? The closest good
archaeology dept I know of would be at Warren Wilson college
down around Morganton. There may be other options but that's all
I know of.
Let us know what you find out.
Good Luck and Thanks,
Joe

[ncbbqnut]

Actually Warren Wilson College is near Black Mountain in the back yard of Asheville.

Contact: Dr. David G. Moore

Address:
WWC CPO 6076
PO Box 9000
Asheville, NC 28815-9000

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Dr. Moore is the one heading up the work at the Berry Site near Morganton. This site was known as Joara by the aborigines, and thought to be the first European (Spanish) colony established by Juan Pardo (Fort San Juan) in the interior of the New World, over two decades before Sir Walter Raleigh's attempt on Roanoke Island.

He is the one to see about your specimen. Good luck.

Dennis

[romare]

Cal Dave Moore at Warren Wilson and he can take a look at it. Archeology department number is [phone]. WW is at the end of Riceville Road between Asheville and Swannanoa so it's a pretty short trip from Asheville. Plus, it's a great place to visit full of super-nice folks.

Mark

[romare]

Shoot, Dennis already covered that... probably a good idea to just email Dr. Moore with the pics initially.

[rockshine]

No opinion on thte artifact/natural question but a sidebar on Joe's water carving comment. In the streambed of the Hiwassee River above Reliance Tn, there is an area of "potholes" in the bedrock, some eight or ten feet in diameter, and as much as 15 feet deep, with not so much as a grain of sand in the bottom of the pot. The holes are almost perfectly circular and the interior is smooth. This area has a wide band (a few hundrerd feet) of softer slate/shale sandwiched between harder rock.

[rockhoppernc]

I just sent him a email, I will post what I find out,

[arappaho]

Hey rockhopper, just curious if you've shown it to anyone or
come to a decision about it yet?
Here's a pic of two broken atlatl weights just as examples of
some reed drilled holes to look at.