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.

handle

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Find coordinates (within a 5-meter radius): 38.414837, -6.444710

Description: The southwest mountainside (nearer the top) is absolutely littered with sherd handles such as this. I chose to pseudo-document this one due to its coherence. It’s lost whatever glaze it may have had and has broken off at the joints. Notable features include the two raised lines that run parallel in a steep parabola on both sides.

jota sherd

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Find coordinates (within a 5-meter radius): 38.414888, -6.444758

Description: This sherd I found down along the small, mid-mountain ridge which is all but invisible from the top of the mountain. This piece offers a view of some fairly intricate design work done on what would have been its exterior; note the blue paint surrounding the design; the more I look at it the more I wonder whether what I think is dirt in the center is actually a corroded metal and whether what I call blue is actually a shade of green patina along its edges. Curious.

Because an old man on the mountain told me that the house foundation very near to the findspot is that of a Roman house, I’m curious to know whether this piece is an example of Roman ceramic work.