Hi Meli.

I agree with Andy and Lyle.  I have never seen a rail spike with a  
prepared hole in the shank.  Such a hole would compromise the strength  
of a spike subjected to the lateral stresses of a rail, particularly  
if all the spikes had such holes.

Do all the artifacts have the same hole?  While I can't tell if the  
object was intended to pivot, the hole suggests that it was intended  
to be bolted or pinned together with something else.  The "head" end  
looks to have an articulating surface.  There are no hints of hinge  
fracture or stress to indicate that the end is broken.  If anything, I  
think the opposite end (the 'tail') might be broken.

I am not convinced this is a "blank" meant to be further worked.  It  
looks to be cast in that shape on purpose.

Knowing the foundry would help narrow the guessing.

Tim


On Sep 10, 2008, at 12:19 PM, Andy Sewell wrote:

> It appears to me that there is a hole in the right (curved) end of the
> iron bar, which is now corroded shut. That would indicate this  
> artifact
> was joined to another and was meant to pivot to some degree. So, is  
> it a
> very large hinge, or is it a lever from some piece of machinery? Or
> something else entirely
>
> Andy Sewell
>
>
> Andrew R. Sewell, MS, RPA
> Principal Investigator
> Historical/Industrial Archaeology
> Hardlines Design Company
> 4608 Indianola Avenue
> Columbus, Ohio 43214
> ph. (614)-784-8733
> fax (614)-784-9336
>
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>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Melissa Diamanti"
>>>> <[log in to unmask]
>>>>>
>>>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>>> Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2008 10:28 AM
>>>> Subject: unidentified iron bar
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I am looking for help in identifying an iron bar artifact from a
> late
>>>> 19th
>>>>> century village & foundry & mill site in Pennsylvania. Multiple
>>>>> examples of
>>>>> the same iron bar with a curved end have been found by the folks
> doing
>>>>> basic
>>>>> brush removal and clearing at the site.
>>>>> The photos are not great, since they were jsut taken in the field
> with
>>>>> car keys for scale. But I have posted two views of the iron bar
> (top
>>>>> and
>>>>> side) on Archaeoseek at
>>>>> http://archaeoseek.ning.com/xn/detail/578807:Photo:27542
>>>>> I hope I did this link correctly. If not, just check the new
> photos
>>>>> for
>>>>> two labeled iron bar.
>>>>> If you are not a member of Archaeoseek and do not wish to
> subscribe to
>>>>> this free service, I can also send them directly to anyone
> interested
>>>>> in
>>>>> helping me out. Thanks,
>>>>>
>>>>> Meli Diamanti
>>>>> Archaeological & Historical Consultants, Inc.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>