This fragment of a stone adze was found on the surface of the 17th-18th century hearth. I assume that it was collected by either the Howlands or Lothrops and brought back to the house as a curiosity. A similar adze was found near the doorstep of the William Brewster house in Duxbury, presumably arriving at the site the same way. The upper surface of the stone does show some marks that may have resulted from it being used as a whetstone for sharpening blades, something that must have been a “sit by the fire in the evening, probably like every evening” sort of thing, so this 3000 year old stone tool may have been repurposed in the 17th or 18th century.