It looks like it might be a carved bullet. Bullets were often carved into both fancifull and functional shapes by troops on both sides. Could this be something like a home made gaming piece?

Pat Garrow

-----Original Message-----
>From: "Branstner, Mark C" <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Mar 7, 2013 1:00 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Unknown lead object
>
>Pat,
>
>"Context" is a surface find from an agricultural field.  Parenthetically,
>about 0.5 mile from Ft. Russell, a War of 1812 site down near East St.
>Louis.
>
>It sort of reminded of some salt-glazed stoneware stoppers that I have
>seen elsewhere.
>
>Mark
>___________________________________
>
>Mark C. Branstner, RPA
>Historical Archaeologist
>
>Illinois State Archaeological Survey
>Prairie Research Institute
>University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
>209 Nuclear Physics Lab, MC-571
>23 East Stadium Drive
>Champaign, IL 61820
>
>Phone: 217.244.0892
>Fax: 217.244.7458
>Cell: 217.549.6990
>[log in to unmask]
>
>"Mongo only pawn in game of life."  Mongo.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>On 3/7/13 11:55 AM, "Patrick Martin" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>>Looks to me more like something to plug a hole in a heavy fabric or
>>leather
>>item, maybe holding liquid...... push in the pointed end until the fabric
>>slips into the groove around the object..... but then again??????
>>CONTEXT????
>>PEMartin
>>
>>
>>On Thu, Mar 7, 2013 at 9:58 AM, Branstner, Mark C
>><[log in to unmask]>wrote:
>>
>>> Folks,
>>>
>>> Please find attached a photo of an unknown lead object, found in
>>>southern
>>> Illinois.  About 3/4 inch in diameter x 7/8 inch long. Certainly looks
>>>like
>>> munitions, and may have some rifling traces around base, but seems
>>>pretty
>>> unstable in terms of overall shape:
>>>
>>>
>>> 
>>>http://s896.beta.photobucket.com/user/markbranst/library/UNKNOWN%20LEAD%2
>>>0OBJECT
>>>
>>> Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
>>>
>>> Mark
>>>
>>>
>>> ___________________________________
>>>
>>>
>>> Mark C. Branstner, RPA
>>>
>>> Historical Archaeologist
>>>
>>>
>>> Illinois State Archaeological Survey
>>>
>>> Prairie Research Institute
>>>
>>> University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
>>>
>>> 209 Nuclear Physics Lab, MC-571
>>>
>>> 23 East Stadium Drive
>>>
>>> Champaign, IL 61820
>>>
>>>
>>> Phone: 217.244.0892
>>>
>>> Fax: 217.244.7458
>>>
>>> Cell: 217.549.6990
>>>
>>> [log in to unmask]
>>>
>>>
>>> "Mongo only pawn in game of life."  Mongo.
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>-- 
>>*Patrick E. Martin, PhD*
>>*Professor of Archaeology and Chair
>>President, The International Committee for the Conservation of the
>>Industrial Heritage
>>*
>>*Department of Social Sciences*
>>*Michigan Technological University*
>>*Houghton, MI  USA  49931*
>>*[log in to unmask]*
>>*(906) 487-2070*
>>*www.industrialarchaeology.net
>>www.ticcih.org
>>
>>*