Ash tray or real Indian artifact?

[Quest]

Recovered this from the Connetquot River in Oakdale N.Y. under a few feet of organic silt. This area was known to have native Indians along its shores. Is this Item the real thing or a ash try item was totally blackened by silt.

[Hoss]

This was turned on a wheel. Native Pottery was not made this way. How big is it?

[fldwlkr]

It's a turned piece but does look old. Perhaps from early settlers to the area.

[fldwlkr]

Kinda looks salt glazed in technique.

[Ron Kelley]

That's an interesting piece of pottery. Like Matt said it was made on a pottery wheel. The blackened spout reminds me of ancient oil lamps where the wick was placed in that spout.

I have a stone oil lamp that was recovered on Kodiak Island in Alaska. I think your pottery is more modern than any oil lamps that I have but feel that it could have been used as one.

[Ron Kelley]

Your pottery didn't come from Israel but it could have been used like this ancient oil lamp in my collection:


This is a terra cotta oil lamp from Israel, Iron Age (1200-560 BC), the shape is spouted bowl with flattened lip, rounded base. In this early open-style lamp, the wick was placed in the pinched area and the oil was exposed. 14.5 cm wide, a SUPERB example.
Reference: Adler 11.
The first part of the Iron Age was the time of the reigns of Saul, David, and Solomon (1020-930 BC). Oil lamps like this one were the only sources of light after dark or in closed spaces. David Hendin purchased this oil lamp from a licensed dealer in Jerusalem more than 30 years ago.

[SDhunter]

It’s still a very nice relic

[Hoss]

Pretty sure Ron nailed it. If I knew the size I would have said same. However after Ron's comments I googled clay oil lamp and boom Etsy style. https://www.etsy.com/listing/1175446...-5&frs=1&sts=1

[Ron Kelley]

Hey Quest, Welcome to the Arrowheads.com Forums. Even though your piece isn't ancient I do believe that it has some good age to it. For that reason I hope you don't burn it. Here is a modern reproduction of the more common closed type and I did burn it.

[Quest]

I dug this item out with a crab net 22 feet off shore in the river this was all Vanderbuilt property in the old days but I was told that Indians inhabited this area along the river. Is there any way to make out its true identity and was in fact of native Indian item.

[Quest]

I just hope I don't pull up any Skeletons.

[Ron Kelley]

Hey Quest, As Hoss said; The native americans didn't use a potter's wheel to make their pottery. It's not Native American but I don't know who made it.

[Tam]

I have been known to throw a pot or two . I agree with the wheel theory . It is a thrown pot .

[Quest]

I'm still interested who made it and what was it for.

[Quest]

I happy to announce that since I posted my clay pottery and the help I received new information came to light. Yes it is a oil lamp most likely introduced by early European settlers going as far back as the 1700's. Indians did not use pottery wheels back then. thank you for your help.

[Garguy]

Awesome. Lots of experience on here. Nice solve guys.

[Mattern]

Hay Quest great thread. That's what I like about our forum, it gets people thinking and helps out anyone with a QUESTion, (Pun intended). So a hardy welcome to arrowheads.com Kim from Pa.