POST MEDIEVAL WHETSTONE

1100

An incomplete object made of sandstone, possibly a whetstone (hone stone) of Medieval to Modern date. The object is sub-rectangular. On one side, towards one of the shorter edges, there is a large rounded protrusion that may have been a handle. The object is broken at the opposite end to the protrusion. There are faint traces of lines running around the edge of the object that may have been a form of decoration or natural feature in the rock.There are marks across the surface on all sides which may have been caused by a blade being sharpend on the object, suggesting that this is a whetstone. Most whetstones had perforations for suspension, though this example does not have any visible perforation. No examples of whetstones with a rounded protrusion at one end have been found. Alternatively the object may be an unfinished sculpture or statue, with the protrusion being a rough shaping of a feature of the statue and the marks being evidence of working. However, it is difficult to know for certain.dimensions: length: 117.86 mm; width: 61.78 mm; thickness: 51.91 mm; weight: 500g.