subcircular whorl/weight – huso o peso subcircular

1. top profile - perfil de arriba

2. detail - detalle

3. rotation

4. rear - atras

5. rotation

6. profile - perfil

7. angle - angulo

8. angle - angulo

Find coordinates (within a 5-meter radius): 38.415203, -6.445040

Description: This is a sub-circular granite stone featuring a 1.1cm hole bored through its center. On what I’m calling its “top” there is a 1.7cm (in diameter) depression supported by a bulb visible in the first photo. On the same surface narrow and shallow indentations run from the stone’s edge to the hole in its center; these indentations appear to have been worn into the stone by a cord or string. One trough runs toward the 1.7cm depression and the other runs the opposite direction.

The opposite surface is plain save for a companion wear-mark to the trough which runs away from the 1.7cm depression (image 8). In total there are three of these so-called troughs. Image 6 tries to show how these troughs meet (beneath the lichen) and how over its use-life the stone had become distorted.

Speculation:I’ve come to support three possibilities in respect to this object’s use-life utility. They are:

Net Weight: Support Images: one two three four

Loom Whorl/Weight: Support Images: one  two

Pump drills also sport stones of this shape. None of the examples I’ve seen explain the extra off-center hole/depression on this piece.

end scraper – rasqueta III

perfil arriba - profile (top)

perfil debajo - underside profile

punto - point

proximal end - terminacion proximal

Find coordinates (within a 5-meter radius): 38.414913, -6.441550

Form correlation: finds.org.uk end scraper (flint)

Description: This is a flaked piece of quartz/granite. The dorsal-ridge side appears to have four surfaces while the ventral (underside) has clearly been flaked to form three surfaces. Its proximal end is sub-diamond in shape.

Speculation: Judging from the image at the above link address and others I’ve seen, my guess is that this was either hafted vertically to form an end-scraper (for hides) or perpendicularly to form an axe or hatchet. As it’s flaked and ground but not polished, I’d suppose it’s not any more recent than the upper Mesolithic.

hatchet head – cabeza de acha

hatchet head - cabeza de acha

profile - perfil

top profile - perfil arriba

edge profile - perfil filo

standing - de pie

width - anchura

Find coordinates (within a 5-meter radius): 38.415342, -6.442022

Description:This, like most of the Stone Aged items on the mountain, is composed of quartz. It’s cutting edge has been ground rather than flaked and it’s “face” is largely covered by a dark cortex. From above, as seen in the third image, it bears an impressive ovoid shape that speaks to its workmanship. It is dulled and/or notched at the usual places on its proximal and distal ends: the four corners between which securing twine could have been stretched to secure it to its haft. In fact, it is possible to see in the first image how these heavy cords crossed over the face of the hatchet. During their decomposition, the stone accrued cortex; this cortex (black) is fainter where the cords formerly were.

Speculation: A couple of points of interest have caught my eye with this item. Perhaps time is the culprit, or animal hooves, but I’ve notices some irregular marks on a couple of the faces. The first is visible in the second image. Near the proximal end and top surface (top-right in the image), there are a pair of wavy lines etched into the stone. Probably nothing as I’ve seen these marks on other stones where an animal has stepped on them and grated them against an underlying surface, causing scratches.

The second point of interest is visible in the fourth image. It occurs on the lower flat where twine would have passed (in the image, it’s on the same latitude as my thumb-nail). Probably it’s natural, but it looks to me like a crudely encircled cross symbol. Its lines are too straight for my little mind to ignore.