Any ideas what this artifact is?

Question

I found this about 5 1/2 feet underground in Oregon. I was using the metal detectors searching for meteorites and I came across this highly magnetic piece (only in certain spots). It's about 7 1/2" x 4 1/2" and weighs about 15lbs.

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z147/screenwr/Artifact012.jpg
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z147/screenwr/Artifact011.jpg
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z147/screenwr/Artifact010.jpg
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z147/screenwr/Artifact009.jpg
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z147/screenwr/Artifact008.jpg
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z147/screenwr/Artifact007.jpg
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z147/screenwr/Artifact006.jpg

Answer 1

I know for a fact that it is egyptian, That is amazing to find that in Oregon. The wrighting on that piece of artifact is Egyption. I am not sure what it says though. Believe it or not I have studied a little bit of Egyptology along with my many archeology, geology, and anthropology interests.

Answer 2

The first answerer is probably right about when this piece was made, but I don't think that it was ballast. My guess would be that this was a door stop.

In the mid-1920's there was a huge Egyptian craze and in addition to decorative items for your home, Egyptian themed theaters sprung up around the country. The one in Coos Bay, Oregon (which is still playing) shows that the craze was definitely present in Oregon at the time. If it was something like a doorstop, when it broke, it was either thrown out into the yard or played with by a child and lost and forgotten. The depth of your find would be about right for the amount of soil that has come ashore from the west and buried artifacts here in Oregon.

Too bad you didn't find the top to the piece too. It's very interesting.

Answer 3

The pottery is manufactured and of recent origen.

Iron was only used in clay recently and the commercial thin glaze and cast manufactured shape indicate 1920s to present.

Answer 4

Ballast of some sort/