AXE GRINDING STONE At 76 lbs. this is one of the largest stone tools ever found in Illinois. The exact find site is no longer known. But it's believed to have been found somewhere in or around Calhoun County, Illinois. The side shown in this picture has a long narrow groove cut into the center of the stone. It was evidently used to sharpen the cutting bits of axes. The groove measures 13 inches (33cm) long, 4 1/2 inches (11.4cm) wide and 2 1/16 inches (5.2cm) deep. There are also at least four small holes near the edge of the stone which may have been used to crack open nuts. |