Is this a old shaft straightener

[texbrazos]

Not sure if I found something or not, but hate to discard until I know if I have. I found this next to a small spring here in north texas, that leads down to a larger lake (Eagle Mountain Lake). The lake is the Trinity river and the spring is probably one of the closer water sources to the grasslands here in north Texas. Nice little hidden oasis, that kinda reminds me of the eastern woodlands. Lush moss etc. The location is pretty much where the timber meets the grasslands. Anyway, there was a huge bolder about 6 feet away and it had a small stone that was bowl shaped sitting right on it. Kinda wierd I thought, so I dug around and found little bone fragments, maybe burned wood, but nothing substantial. Lots of dirt or decayed ash on top not sure how to tell the diff. The bolder sat on the side of a hill and had holes going all the way through it. The boulder was about the size of a VW Bug maybe a little bigger. I have seen many bolders in the area but none with large holes like this. It acutally had a little cave overhang, one could sleep under if needed. I do have a question, how can you tell old burned wood from new. As a matter of fact how can you tell if rocks have been burned after 150- 200 years? By the way there are large river canes in the area as well. I also find lots of oyster shell which at first thought to be midden piles, but think that it was just the ocean floor. Any help is appreciated.

[texbrazos]

Also, in the image with the "shaft straightener" is a bone I found right next to it. Not sure what it is either.

[Mojave]

Looks like a natural rock to me.
Nice spot though.

[texbrazos]

Looks like a natural rock to me.
Nice spot though.

Thanks for the reply. I seem to get that answer alot. With my luck I was prob. standing on the arrowheads It was a nice area, and nice break from the Texas sun for sure, nice little spring as well. The big rock that was near by was very interesting. It had large holes that went all the way through the rock to the ground. Your guess is good as mine as to how they got there. The little bowl like rock was sitting on a flat part of the rock like it was put there, after I dug all the debris away, the was a large hole underneath that went all the way to the ground. I did find some small bone fragments, not sure how they got there either.
Any ideas as to what animal that bone may be from, not sure how to tell age.

[Steve Valentine]

Looks like a natural stone to me as well. Hard to say about the Bone without a few more pics, but it looks like it might be a Vertabrae from a Deer. That does look like a very promising spot. I'm sure something will come out of there if you keep at it.

[texbrazos]

Looks like a natural stone to me as well. Hard to say about the Bone without a few more pics, but it looks like it might be a Vertabrae from a Deer. That does look like a very promising spot. I'm sure something will come out of there if you keep at it.

Thanks. I will keep at it. Just a note, I find many what I think are artifacts in stream beds. I found this one about 6 foot away from the large boulder in a stream. Who knows how long they may have been there rolling around, 10,000 years or 200. I have several pieces sitting right here in front of me that people have said are not anything, but I can clearly see the flaking marks and they fit the hand like a glove, all be it, they are worn, but you can still see the marks. Not that this particular piece has any, but many do. Maybe I need better camera or stop searching the streams Sure beats the heat though. I will not give up, it is therapy to me. I appreciate all your help.

[texbrazos]

okay went back to this area to look around. I grabbed the little bowl looking "artifact" and took photos of it. The bowl was setting on the ledge of the large boulder, not sure if it is anything, but might as well ask. I dug around and found some other possible artifacts, but not sure, either. If these are artifacts they would be very old. Large thin stones that have similar notches, maybe a primitive ax or hoe??? I also found some stones that appear to have been set up right, and also found one of those trees that may have been a marker tree, cause it has grown sideways, not sure if it is or not, but will get a photo of it as well.

[texbrazos]

by the way, i have not cleaned up the bowl, not sure how or what the patina consists of or if it may have been in a fire? Did find a few bits and pieces of bone fragments around, but nothing major. Several small caves in the area, nice plush small spring in the area as well.

[Mojave]

Sorry, still not seeing it.
If the depression in the rock was made by man or used as a bowl it would have a smooth surface. I see a definite natural texture in the depression inferring it was not made or used as anything by the indians unless it was just a storage thing or cup, in which case there is no way of telling. Wouldn't be an artifact anyway. Not modified by man.

[texbrazos]

No prob. thanks for the reply. I had rather be safe than sorry. I will clean it out and see if there is anything more to it, it has a thick patina on it. I find it strange that it is sitting upon the ledge of this huge bolder, and is not the same rock material as the bolder. did you see the other two rocks I found they were flat and had similar notches out of the corners.