I think the pipe tool idea is very plausible.  Combination tamper and  
reamer/bore drill.  I have seen something similar in Germany.
Whadda you think, Smoke Pfeiffer, tobacco guy?

PEMartin

On Feb 24, 2008, at 11:17 PM, Karen Murphy wrote:

Hi all



During excavations at a late-19th century timber mill settlement on Lake
Cootharaba, in southeast Queensland, Australia, an interesting metal
artefact was found.  It is a cylindrical item around 6cm long, with what
appears to be a knob that twisted around the barrel of the item,  
possibly
extending and retracting an interior piece.  An image of the item is
available at http://www.atsis.uq.edu.au/index.html?page=78055
<http://www.atsis.uq.edu.au/index.html?page=78055&pid=42037> &pid=42037



We have come up with a few suggestions and ideas here, but would  
appreciate
any more concrete information and identification of such an item.  And
whether people have come across something similar in their work? Or any
other ideas?



Your help is appreciated.



Cheers

Karen



----

Karen Murphy

School of Social Science

(Anthropology, Archaeology, Criminology, Sociology)

University of Queensland

Brisbane  QLD  4072

Australia



Ph: +61 7 3346 9551

M: 0401 644 678

Email: [log in to unmask]

Visit the Mill <http://www.atsis.uq.edu.au/index.html? 
page=42037&pid=41684>
Point Archaeological Project website



Queensland State Representative

Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology

Email: [log in to unmask]



Patrick E. Martin
Professor of Archaeology
Department of Social Sciences
Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI  49931
phone 906-487-2070,email [log in to unmask]
www.industrialarchaeology.net