How old is this mortar?

I assume you’re probably referring to the stone one and not the wooden one we have been discussing. That’s immediately what came to mind for me too. I sure hope it’s what I was told it was and not a trough. It would be a really cool trough but I paid more than I would have for a trough because of it’s supposed origins. I’ve yet to do much research on the stone piece.

 

i can't see how that will be easy......... good luck !!!!

 

Did u mention the size of the stone one? Sure it isn’t concrete? Maybe goes under a downspout?

 

Certainly could have been. I never considered that but it’s a possibility.

 

That's what it looks like to me. Either a concrete part of a water feature of sorts, or a trough.

 

I don't think the stone piece is a NA mortar or metate. NA basal grinding stones are typically basin-shaped with considerable polish inside, even from slight use.

Without context, it's hard to say if it's NA or pioneer. Considerable effort went into making it.

I think it may have been for another use, such as dyeing, leaching or other material processing.

A look at the bottom should help with the concrete/stone question. (I'm seeing stone, myself, but maybe it's just the lichens.)

 

It’s stone for sure.

 

It is definitely stone. New England field stone type stone it seems. While I didn’t think it was a traditional bowl/basin mortar I did think it was a metates type grinding stone. The more I was looking the more I was starting to question that though. Obviously you are correct in regards to the wear pattern. I agree it was meant for processing of some sort. I also questioned whether it was pioneer of Native American. I’m certainly hoping Native American although either would be neat. It was in a private collection for the last thirty years. The auction house owner is supposed to get a note from the previous owner for me with everything he knows about it. I only know it was pulled out of the woods near a natural water source in central MA. I’m very much looking forward to getting the info from the previous owner although I don’t have total faith it will come lol. I don’t believe it was a trough but I could be wrong.

 

Btw it is at least 2-3ft long, maybe more. North of 150lbs for sure. Most likely over 200lbs judging by how much it annoyed my back to lift.

 

Few more photos:

 

It starts shallow on the smaller end and gradually gets deeper on the wide end. I believe that probably serves a purpose in processing whatever it was meant to process. Again could be wrong but that’s my guess. Design had to be pretty pragmatic and ingenious back then. Especially if you were going to take the extensive amount of time it would have taken to chip away at this hard stone.