not long, most about 15 minutes, a few less than a hour. as for originals found in se U.S. , im sure there are. i found a "original" where i get my stones from to make my own.im in the great lakes region. i have that "original" believe it or not, my first actual fire came the same day i found it. its good medicin far as im concerned.i often wonder who it belonged to. theres even peck marks on the opposite side as if the person making it thought about using that side then decided to use the other side.i often wonder could it have belonged to a Erie ? they were wiped out before Euros reached the Americas.but they did live in this area.but it could of been any number of tribes that lived here. although by history books you would swear no one claimed this area as home due to the black swamp. but i think that has more to do with stealing the land than actual historic reasons.the winner makes the history.Tony