Strange rock

JMSE

I found this while digging in the back garden a few years ago, at a guess its limestone, thought I might post it up here to get a few opinions on how it came to be so perfectly curvy?? The kids have been at it too so scrapes and certain recent chips are blamable. Any ideas?

slowburner

It looks very like a grain rubber stone from a hand quern, used for grinding grains.
It would have been used something like this, although not in a saddle quern.



http://education.gtj.org.uk/en/item1/8591

Context is everything.
It could, in theory, also be a hammer stone or maul.
On the other hand, it might be just a beach pebble which someone picked up and lost.
So obviously enough, we'd need to know more about the context, or circumstances of the find.

For example, is this the only rounded stone you have come across in the area?
Is it a native rock type?
Is there a beach or large river nearby?

bogwalrus

Maybe an early sporting ball like a bawling ball like they throw in the countryside on narrow roads.

JMSE

Bogwalrus, that idea did strike me alright.

Slowburner the rock is from south east meath area where as far as I know we do have limestone down below but am not sure. I was digging out for a shed in a housing estate. I think the rock came out in the topsoil, it was a few years ago. The land was farmed land previously. There werent similar rocks found, no beach nearby, but a 12' stream there is only 100yds away.

dr gonzo

As always Ill preempt my comment with a safety "I could easily be entirely wrong" but it looks like nothing to me. Its always good to keep an eye out for things coming out of the ground, no matter how innocuous, but if there was any human involvement with this stone it hasnt played out through manufacture*

* Of course it always helps to see it in person so to speak

slowburner

I agree with Dr.G, it's more than likely a water rolled stone from the river nearby.