It's A"Spalling".

[meetmaker]

Mr. Metin I. Eren in his "Anvil Reduction at the Early Paleoindian Site of Paleo Crossing ( 33ME274 ), North Eastern Ohio" in "Current Research in the Pleistocene vol. 27,2010", addresses the scarcity of good toolstone. With Chert deposits five hundred miles away and a low population density to inhibit trade, he demonstrates that the Ancients to extend the useful life of their toolkit would rework their flints.
In my area of Ohio local sandstones would be put to use. I have developed an interest in these tools.Not glamorous or even pretty but perfectly useful, these are the Pasts cheap stainless steel flatware.
These sandstone tools don't often exhibit the typical signs of workmanship. The big problem with sandstone is the mechanics of the edge. Sandstone breaks around the grains, not through them. An edge could be no sharper than the size of the grains. Yet, if the Silica grains were small and set in a durable matrix a cutting edge can be produced.
In some ways they resemble "Spalls". Some distinctions between spalls and expedient sandstone tools become obvious.
This "Round Knife" was collected in the fall of 2010. The most obvious distinction between this and a spall is the lack of a parent stone. The second would be the lack of debris or, debitage.
I call this an "Uniface tool". By that I mean that an edge is formed were the natural surface meets a struck plane. No retouch. I expect surface finds to have some random marks from agricultural equipment. This tool only shows some nicks on the edge. I suspect these are use wear marks of damaging activity.
Just because a rock fits a hand doesn't mean it is an artifact. But to be a hand tool a rock absolutely has to fit the hand. Though crude in looks, one reason I admire these tools is their supreme ergonomics. This tool is no exception. Rather than drawing the knife through the flesh, I have found it to cut well when the edge is pressed through the tissue against a hard surface and rolled. The "roundness" of the knife facilitates this type of handling. Anyone who has played "Air Hockey" will recognize an alternate grip. Worked like a mandolin slicer I could easily dehair a hide fresh from a wood ash bath and pegged out on hard ground.
I believe this artifact was struck from a parent stone with one stroke. It is postulated that this tool was formed in this manner. After selecting a loaf shaped cobble natural features on an end were worked to provide a gripping surface. Then grasped in two hands and struck, with forearms hard from a lifetime of wrestling Mother Nature, against the edge of a larger harder stone. This tool then sheared off just above the impact point.
When confronted with a lack of quality toolstone the skill of the Ancient Artisans rose to the occasion. Efficient tools quickly made from a plentiful material, I don't believe these Ancients suffered from lack of flint.

[uniface]

They got it done one way or another.

[Massac]

Really? Looks like a rock to me.

[meetmaker]

Yes, it is a rock.....all tomfoolery aside, if I only had one example I wouldn't have given it much notice. I keep finding samples ( some of which I have posted before) of a tool making technology adapted to less desirable stone. I am impressed with these because the Skill of these is the ability to see the tool in the stone, then after surface work to break these from the package with one stroke. This style carries across stones, not just on one. Here is one remarkably similar to the one in this post. Beneath the oxidation and iron stains is a pretty red to purple Quartzite. Other than the material this is a match for the sandstone tool. As any cutting edges have been ground off, I call this an Object of Art. Thank you all for your interest.

[drdave514]

I can see where it's been knocked/spalled and maybe some edge work but it's hard to see much in that rough material. Interesting pieces.

[hill50]

Meetmaker,
I'd like to say you have some very cool tools posted here. I have been a member since 12/28/2010 but never posted anything, just looked around. These are interesting to me because I find some like them in my area as well. The 4th picture down looks like a "cat's head." Thank you for posting your finds and I look forward to seeing more.
Sherry

[Mud Hawk]

The pic posted as a "round knife" could in fact function as a cutting impliment. I have picked up hardstone/conglomerate pieces that are broke in half and do have what I'll refer to as "functional" cutting edge. The problem lies in identifying if it was in fact used. It is a delima based on material. Flint/chert has identifiable unique traits if it was used for scraping, cutting, and impact. Materials like yours will show broken fragments on the edge best case scenario and your pic does in all fairness... BUT... there is just no way to prove it was done by early man or just one of natures anomalies. On that other piece, I don't see a cats head in any way shape or form... sorry.

Case and point.
.
.
.