Pennsylvania Finds
Collection from Carol
    The following stones were found in a field in Pennsylvania.  The first three pictures are of the same stone.  The last picture is of a two different stones that were found with the first one.
     If you look at the center of the first stone you will notice pigmentation around and in the hole.  It is the same with the other two stones.  The first stone has also had the center hollowed out. 
     If you have any information on these artifact please e-mail me.

     I want to thank everyone for your responses.  They provided very useful.  I removed all personal information from the response, but if you would like any other information added please let me know.
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    The artifact is a paint pot. this would be used by mixing the pigment in it and use the pigment to color their clothing, pottery, faces, or anything else that they wanted to color.
awesome find!

     Paint pots are fairly common and were used to make paint by grinding, pulverizing hematite. Red ochre as it is often called has been associated with burial mounds. Early man probably used berries and other organic materials for making dyes and paints but traces of organic materials are less likely to survive time. I have found pieces of hematite that show grinding marks as the material was made into powder.

     What else have you found in this field? When I go into a new field, I do a quick survey, looking for flakes of flint first, if I find an area that looks like flint has been knapped I'll then start working the area systematically. I've found that walking slowly I can find things that people before me have missed. This method seems to work best for me. Today with no till farming and less agriculture I can't be as picky where I spend my time and sometimes I'll spend hours in a field that doesn't look like there was ever any camp or longer term occupation.

     Its a natural artifact, that contained Red ochre in it.
http://www.indiancrestartifacts.com/index.html

     These look like paint pots to me. I have a small one, but it doesn't have

     In regards to the pictures you posted. It looks like either a paint pot or possibly an iron concretion that may have weathered leaving a hollow center. I can't tell from your photo if the stone has actually been pecked out or if it's a product of differential weathering.

     Hi. Me again. I asked my father about the artifacts in question. My Dad  has been looking for artifacts his whole life and is quite knowledgeable.   He looked in Pennsylvania for most of his life. He writes:

      "I agree. Think they are paint pots. They look nice. Believe the Indians  would peck out cavities in the rock and also take advantage of rocks with  naturally formed cavities. If the stones were found on a good artifact site  then the assumption is they were most likely used by Indians and are paint  pots. Especially with traces of color in them."

Hope this helps.

     Those were used to crush red ochre into paint have one myself and the red stain on it is awesome:
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