ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Stone ball

Have you ever played with a ball made of stone? It may seem strange, but sometimes in the past, people used to make balls out of heavy rocks or stones. These stone balls were not made to kick or throw around like a regular ball, but instead, they were used for important things like hunting, tools, and even games.

Stone ball-making was a process that required a lot of skill and patience. First, someone would choose the right kind of rock, one that was tough enough to withstand hammering and shaping. Think of it like picking the perfect pumpkin for Halloween. Then they would use special tools to carefully chip away at the rock until it was round and smooth.

These stone balls came in all shapes and sizes, but some were as small as a golf ball, and others were massive like a basketball. Stone balls were used in different ways depending on where and when they were made. For example, some ancient cultures found that stone balls made great weapons for hunting. They would throw them at their prey or use them to smash things like nuts or bones.

In other cultures, people used their stone balls as tools. For example, they would place a small stone ball in a mortar, and then use a larger stone ball to grind and crush grains or seeds. Stone balls were also used in a game called the Mesoamerican ballgame, which was played by ancient Maya and Aztec civilizations.

In conclusion, stone balls were a unique and valuable item in the past, and they served many purposes. They were made by carefully shaping rocks, and used for hunting, tools, and games. While we don't use stone balls much anymore, they remain an important part of history and are a fascinating object to learn about!
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