The stone is about 4 inches (100 mm) long and 2.5 inches (64 mm) thick, dark and egg-shaped, bearing a variety of carved symbols.[1] Carvings on one side of the stone show an ear of corn and several other figures. The other side is more abstract, featuring inverted arrows, a moon shape, some dots and a spiral.[2]
A hole goes through the stone from top to bottom, seemingly bored from both ends with different size bits (1⁄8 inch (3.2 mm) at the top and 3⁄8 inch (9.5 mm) at the bottom).[2]
Historyedit
The stone was reportedly found in 1872 in Meredith, New Hampshire, by workers digging a hole for a fence post. Seneca Ladd, a Meredith businessman who hired the workers, was given credit for the discovery.[1] In 1892, upon Ladd's death, the stone passed to Frances Ladd Coe of Center Harbor, one of his daughters. In 1927, she donated the stone to the New Hampshire Historical Society.[1]
A contemporary source suggested that the stone "commemorates a treaty between two tribes".[3] Another writer later suggested that it is a thunderstone. With the somewhat limited understanding of the day, the letter said that thunderstones "always present the appearance of having been machined or hand-worked: frequently they come from deep in the earth, embedded in lumps of clay, or even surrounded by solid rock or coral".[4]
In 1994, a borescope analysis of the stone's holes was performed. State archaeologist Richard Boisvert later suggested that the holes had the appearance of having been drilled by power tools from the 19th or 20th century:
I've seen a number of holes bored in stone with technology that you would associate with prehistoric North America. There's a certain amount of unevenness ... and this hole was extremely regular throughout. What we did not see was variations that would be consistent with something that was several hundred years old.[5]
Scratches in the lower bore suggest it was placed on a metal shaft and removed several times.[5]
Analysis has concluded the stone is a type of quartzite.[6]
Referencesedit
^ abcde. New Hampshire Historical Society. Archived from the original on 2010-09-14. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
^ abCitro, Joseph A. (2005). Joe Citro's weird New England : your travel guide to New England's local legends and best kept secrets. Sterling Publishing. p. 33. ISBN1402733305. Lake Winnipesaukee.
lake, winnipesaukee, mystery, stone, alleged, place, artifact, oopart, found, town, near, lake, winnipesaukee, hampshire, stone, purpose, origin, unknown, hampshire, historical, society, stone, about, inches, long, inches, thick, dark, shaped, bearing, variety. The Lake Winnipesaukee mystery stone is an alleged out of place artifact OOPArt found in a town near Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire The stone s age purpose and origin are unknown 1 Lake Winnipesaukee mystery stone at the New Hampshire Historical Society The stone is about 4 inches 100 mm long and 2 5 inches 64 mm thick dark and egg shaped bearing a variety of carved symbols 1 Carvings on one side of the stone show an ear of corn and several other figures The other side is more abstract featuring inverted arrows a moon shape some dots and a spiral 2 A hole goes through the stone from top to bottom seemingly bored from both ends with different size bits 1 8 inch 3 2 mm at the top and 3 8 inch 9 5 mm at the bottom 2 History editThe stone was reportedly found in 1872 in Meredith New Hampshire by workers digging a hole for a fence post Seneca Ladd a Meredith businessman who hired the workers was given credit for the discovery 1 In 1892 upon Ladd s death the stone passed to Frances Ladd Coe of Center Harbor one of his daughters In 1927 she donated the stone to the New Hampshire Historical Society 1 The stone is currently on exhibit at the Museum of New Hampshire History 1 Analysis and interpretation editA contemporary source suggested that the stone commemorates a treaty between two tribes 3 Another writer later suggested that it is a thunderstone With the somewhat limited understanding of the day the letter said that thunderstones always present the appearance of having been machined or hand worked frequently they come from deep in the earth embedded in lumps of clay or even surrounded by solid rock or coral 4 In 1994 a borescope analysis of the stone s holes was performed State archaeologist Richard Boisvert later suggested that the holes had the appearance of having been drilled by power tools from the 19th or 20th century I ve seen a number of holes bored in stone with technology that you would associate with prehistoric North America There s a certain amount of unevenness and this hole was extremely regular throughout What we did not see was variations that would be consistent with something that was several hundred years old 5 Scratches in the lower bore suggest it was placed on a metal shaft and removed several times 5 Analysis has concluded the stone is a type of quartzite 6 References edit a b c d e The Mystery Stone New Hampshire Historical Society Archived from the original on 2010 09 14 Retrieved 2010 10 01 a b Citro Joseph A 2005 Joe Citro s weird New England your travel guide to New England s local legends and best kept secrets Sterling Publishing p 33 ISBN 1402733305 Lake Winnipesaukee Anthropology The American Naturalist 6 11 696 703 November 1872 doi 10 1086 271037 Author unknown 1931 Letter to the New Hampshire Historical Society 1931 a b Klatell James M July 23 2006 New England s Mystery Stone New Hampshire Displays Unexplained Artifact 134 Years Later Associated Press Archived from the original on 2012 10 07 Retrieved 2010 10 01 New England com Mystery Stone 43 12 25 N 71 32 08 W 43 20694 N 71 53556 W 43 20694 71 53556 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lake Winnipesaukee mystery stone amp oldid 1170341531, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
