Indian Axe Covered With Iron Slag?
By far the most important artifact type associated with the pit iron smelters of Ohio is the green-glazed stone. Nothing naturally occurring comes close to match this artifact, making it almost certain that an iron furnace was once located near where such a stone is found. First to realize the significance of this unique artifact type was Arlington Mallery, who instructed me to regard such stones as diagnostic for the presence of iron furnaces. This particular stone was given by Mallery to the author's sister, probably in 1949-50. It came from one of the Deer Creek furnaces, most probably the Arledge.
This stone fits quite neatly into one's hand with the widest end down, suggesting its use as some sort of hand axe. Otherwise, it would seem to be the axe head of a tomahawk. If this is an Indian artifact, does it mean the iron smelter in the mound was Indian? Not necessarily, because if the furnace was dug into an existing mound, the axe could have been coated with iron slag accidentally. The artifact is 5.5" long, 2.75" wide and 1.5" thick at its maximum dimensions.
See Also: Tomahawk Stone