Is this a prehistoric tool?

[AlexC1981]

I found this digging in the garden about 15 years ago. I thought it looked like it could be something so I stashed it in the drawer and its been their ever since. A bit of googling and it looks a bit like a hide scraper, but it might just be a funny shaped stone. What do you think?













It sits quite comfortably in the hand with a little depression for the thumb. I could imagine scraping or cutting something with it.

[Some Gump]

Will it cut nails?

[tapkaJohnD]

May be, take it to a local museum! Thye will know if it is typical of a time or place.
Could be part of flint knapping debris, the bits and pieces 'knapped' off as a tool was made, as some of those are much, much more elaborate and sophisticated.

JOhn

[soad]

http://www.stoneagetools.co.uk/is-this-a-stone-age...

[AlexC1981]

That link is excellent. It has some of the characteristics described, but its quite hard to tell. I'll see if I can find a museum locally to take a look.

Some Gump said:

Will it cut nails?

Sorry but my manicurist is on holiday and I simply will not have anybody else touch them.

[V8LM]

Why was I expecting to see photograph of Jeremy Corbyn?

[Simpo Two]

I'm voting for 'funny shaped stone'. Or Jeremy Corbyn.

[schmunk]

Some Gump said:

Will it cut nails?

Will it blend?

[V8FGO]

Possibly

https://finds.org.uk/database/search/results/q/hid...

Best speak with the FLO at your local museum.

https://finds.org.uk/contacts/

[AlexC1981]

Thanks. I have emailed the chap in St Albans, which is near to where I work.

[superlightr]

looks like it has been worked to produce a sharp edge on a 'comfy' flint. A good find I would thing.

[AlexC1981]

I had a reply from Julian Watters; the Finds Liaison Officer at the Verulamium Museum in St Albans:

said:

Thanks very much for the email and pictures. The overall flake formation is natural – probably the result of frost shattering. I can certainly see what you mean about the more recently exposed flint at the point, which does have a slightly worked look about it; however, I would say this is also likely to be natural – or possibly manmade but accidental – damage rather than deliberate working for the purposes of creating a tool.

Always worth checking these out though, so thanks for sending and feel free to send any more you find.

Oh well, back in the garden it goes.

[superlightr]

AlexC1981 said:

Oh well, back in the garden it goes.

keep it in a special part of the garden and if more turn up it may help point to being manworked. bloody experts eh -

We hang onto any special stones for the rockey.