Northwest Coast Stone Hand Stirrup Maul

Northwest Coast

19th century, possible much older | Stone | Item 2397

This is a rare type of Northwest stone maul, typically called a stirrup maul due to its shape. It’s made of heavy granite, and the color is a deep green mixed with grey tones. The last three photos are more accurate on the color, since the first three show slightly over developed in terms of light. My hand is not large, and it is a tight fit to get my four fingers comfortably inside. This points to an early age, when people and hands were smaller. Or, this may have been more for a woman’s hand. The bottom of the grinding portion is highly polished and smooth from use. As well, the inside of the stirrup portion for the hand shows smooth finishing where the fingers would have grabbed and rubbed.