The object is ~23mm in diameter and weighs 7.3g. It doesn't react to a magnet. It has a stippled surface and was recovered from a housing complex at the Hellenistic site of Jebel Khalid in Syria. Dated around 3rd century BCE. Unfortunately, I cannot analyse it chemically, as it's now lost. Grateful for any suggestions!
I have seen similar shaped hollow rocks that contained Iron Oxide deposits. The ones that I saw came from North Carolina and were naturally occurring. I was told that they were used by the native Indians to obtain Iron Oxide for paint. The local name for them was popping rocks. When one breaks them open they make a popping noise. I had a few but this was 45 years ago.
Sometimes ferric oxide collects on the exterior of abandoned in ground insect nests. Any organic materials decompose, leaving thin hollow ferric oxide orbs.
The iron oxide was contained in the hollow space inside of the shell. Indoubtedly Iron oxide was incorperated as part of the shell also but the internal contents were in a powdered form. When the unbroken "rock" was shaken one could hear the material in it moving around.
Many thanks for your answers, very helpful. I will see if I can find some reference material now that you have helped put me on the right track.
It is an iron oxide ball it might be having mud inside or any piece of stone it is very common near to iron ores. I would also like to give one more interesting fact that at first sight without zooming the image I thought it might be the Rudraksha (Elaeocarpus ganitrus seeds) it looks a little bit same which were and are traditionally used for prayer beads in Hinduism and Buddhism in India, But the on zooming it can be clearly distinguished.
Regards
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