8 1/4 inch Cotton rock celt from Pickaway co. Ohio. Very rare to see Cotton rock artifacts.Very light weight for the size.
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
Huge rare celt.
Collapse
X
-
Awesome Celt Mark, the only problem with that one is that it is not mine. Like the others have heard of cotton rock but never seen anything made from it. The material is cool what blows my mind is the size of it! That is one huge celt!!!_Bill
Comment
-
Very interesting, Mark. “Cotton rock” is one of those terms that’s used to describe a variety of lithologies. Sometimes it’s used to loosely describe decomposed chert, but most commonly it’s a limestone where 50% or more of the structural calcium has been replaced by magnesium as Calcium Magnesium Carbonate.
That’s certainly what your very impressive item looks like - Magnesian limestone or Dolostone (limestone partially replaced by Dolomite), also known as Dolomitic limestone.
Hardness is generally in the region 3.5 - 4, compared to (say) obsidian at 5 - 5.5 or granite at 6 – 7. It will sometimes flake conchoidally, in which case you can get a decent edge on it without resorting to pecking and grinding. Also it sometimes has quartz sand in the matrix which can signifcantly increase the hardness without adding too much to the weight.
I don’t know about native Americans but in many cultures there is a tradition of celts being made in apparently unsuitable materials as votive offerings. They are frequently found in burial contexts, or in association with shrines.
I keep six honest serving-men (they taught me all I knew); Their names are What and Why and When and How and Where and Who.
Comment
-
gregszybala wrote:
Cool piece, so soft but not so soft to make into a celt?
Have always wondered what all the uses for celts are. Beating a rock, even sharpened against a piece of wood has got to be a pain. For war? Lighter, easier to heft? Other purposes?
Comment
-
painshill wrote:
Very interesting, Mark. “Cotton rock” is one of those terms that’s used to describe a variety of lithologies. Sometimes it’s used to loosely describe decomposed chert, but most commonly it’s a limestone where 50% or more of the structural calcium has been replaced by magnesium as Calcium Magnesium Carbonate.
That’s certainly what your very impressive item looks like - Magnesian limestone or Dolostone (limestone partially replaced by Dolomite), also known as Dolomitic limestone.
Hardness is generally in the region 3.5 - 4, compared to (say) obsidian at 5 - 5.5 or granite at 6 – 7. It will sometimes flake conchoidally, in which case you can get a decent edge on it without resorting to pecking and grinding. Also it sometimes has quartz sand in the matrix which can signifcantly increase the hardness without adding too much to the weight.
I don’t know about native Americans but in many cultures there is a tradition of celts being made in apparently unsuitable materials as votive offerings. They are frequently found in burial contexts, or in association with shrines.
Comment
-
If you look at the bit it has lots of use. Could not have been heavy duty use because it would have broke.
Sorry, my final remark didn't come over as intended... just commenting in general about adzes in softer stones. I see the wear on the bit for sure. Weapon, as you suggest, would make a lot of sense.
I keep six honest serving-men (they taught me all I knew); Their names are What and Why and When and How and Where and Who.
Comment
Comment