Buddhabelly Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 Hi, after a work related break in Wexford recently I found this item washed up on the beach. After lightly cleaning it and viewing it under a jewellers loupe, I realised that it appeared to have inscriptions on it. I thought I may be just willing oil t to be the case, but upon further investigation they are definitely man made carvings. It seems to be a fish/catfish possibly to the front, and inscriptions of what I can make out to be, a person, stick like figure, fish, a PI symbol as well as others. It is very intriguing and though I'd share in the hope other do too. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misha Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 2 minutes ago, Buddhabelly said: upon further investigation they are definitely man made carvings How did you determine this? To me this doesn't look like anything that could not have occurred through natural weathering on the rock. I don't think this has anything to do with man made carvings 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrmica Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 I agree. This is perfectly consistent with natural erosion of a relatively hard piece of rock. Our brains look for familiar patterns, even when there are not present. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buddhabelly Posted April 20, 2021 Author Share Posted April 20, 2021 Thanks for your replies. Maybe I am mad, but finding one possible design that looks deliberate is one thing, but there are many that are way too specific, the depths and angles that are more representative of tooling rather than natural occurence. I know it's hard to see from photos, and I always proceed with caution. But I have started with the idea that I was willing it so, then all the reasons why it couldn't be, but from observing under magnification it seems they are deliberately made. That's what I love about it is until we know for sure it's all subjective. I love hearing feedback and take everything on board. Great to be able to share and discuss all possibilities. So thanks. Keep them coming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buddhabelly Posted April 20, 2021 Author Share Posted April 20, 2021 I am working on drawing each symbol out as best I can. And I will share if people are interested in seeing, even if it's just to give people a laugh at my naiveness!! Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misha Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 36 minutes ago, Buddhabelly said: more representative of tooling rather than natural occurence Again, how have you determined this? What makes it looks like its done through the use of tools? Are there any toolmarks which we would expect to see from something like this? That stickman for example, does not look at all deliberate to me, the shape barely matches what you are interpreting it as. I also see no fish, none of the shapes on that rock suggest anything fish-like to me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPS Ammonite Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 The water worn cobbles have curved concussion marks where other rocks hit them. The curved fractures are related to conchoidal fracturing. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conchoidal_fracture 2 2 My goal is to leave no stone or fossil unturned. See my Arizona Paleontology Guide link The best single resource for Arizona paleontology anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 This looks like natural weathering/breakage, and not carving to me. I see no fish shape. I think pareidolia is at play here. 2 Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJ Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 I agree with the others. You are seeing the random intersection and weathering of conchodial fractures in flint / chalcedony rocks. Here are additional examples and closeups. 4 The human mind has the ability to believe anything is true. - JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buddhabelly Posted April 20, 2021 Author Share Posted April 20, 2021 Hi all, sorry for late reply. I am learning loads so thanks. There are some really good clear images of the rocks posted. They are really big. I wonder can people make out any images on such a wider space? Yes lines and grooves but? I am very level headed and always treat things like they are not until they are proven to be. I am completely new to geology etc and something I am getting very interested in. I am researching antiques/antiquities 20 odd years now with interests in asian/middle Eastern,oceanic and tribal art so I am all too aware of how easy it is to get caught up on objects. Everything you all say I completely take on board, and the little drawing I did was done before looking through the loupe, it does not exactly represent the object. All the symbols I can make out are really specific to a specific part of the world i.e asia/China. The fish shape on the front is very much representative of a catfish or similar. So while I still take it that it is not likely, I also cannot ignore what I see and, how coincidences or wanting to believe something so bad to be true that one makes it so in their mind. All the symbols/or random lines are so specific to a certain type of script, not pulled from whatever I could find to suit my agenda, and yet I still know it may be something of nothing. I am just happy to get responses and hopefully more suggestion, critiques etc as I will not be disappointed if it is nothing. But until 100% proven not to be, means there is still a possibility of ot being something. Thanks all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJ Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 When you understand the structural properties of the stone you found, then you will understand it is 99.99999999% ( ) not a possibility of being human carved inscriptions. The crystal structure of flint would make "carving" these tiny marks impossible. The stone is too brittle. 4 The human mind has the ability to believe anything is true. - JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buddhabelly Posted April 20, 2021 Author Share Posted April 20, 2021 Oh so do you know it to be flint? It is an extremely hard stone, I had no idea of what type of stone it may be? Thanks for your and everyone's replies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buddhabelly Posted April 20, 2021 Author Share Posted April 20, 2021 Hi lads, back again. Just an update on the madness!!! So I cleaned a section that was dirty and again which seemed to be deliberately done, it's harder to make out on these photos but I had the opportunity of moving it in the light/angles and viewing again through magnification. See if yous can make anything out? Humour me!! Thanks all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJ Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 The conchodial fractures and soft gloss indicate a microcrystalline quartz based rock like flint, agate, chalcedony, chert, etc. All of which are too brittle to carve at that scale. Check your premises here. 4 The human mind has the ability to believe anything is true. - JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 No inscription here, I'm afraid. 1 ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buddhabelly Posted April 20, 2021 Author Share Posted April 20, 2021 Thanks for the reply once again. Does it look like anything? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 Water-worn stone with percussion marks. 3 ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJ Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 3 minutes ago, Buddhabelly said: Thanks for the reply once again. Does it look like anything? No more so than individual areas of the close-ups I posted above. 1 The human mind has the ability to believe anything is true. - JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buddhabelly Posted April 21, 2021 Author Share Posted April 21, 2021 Sothebys ringing me later!!! Most likely to reaffirm what you all said!!! Happy days. I'll keep you's posted. Cheers all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buddhabelly Posted April 21, 2021 Author Share Posted April 21, 2021 So sothebys said it was not right for their sale but recommended going to the national Museum here in Ireland to try to find out its history?? So the story of the pebble continues!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randyw Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 2 hours ago, Buddhabelly said: So sothebys said it was not right for their sale Translation: it’s a rock... 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buddhabelly Posted April 22, 2021 Author Share Posted April 22, 2021 Ha, yea. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buddhabelly Posted April 24, 2021 Author Share Posted April 24, 2021 I know, I know!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buddhabelly Posted April 24, 2021 Author Share Posted April 24, 2021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJ Posted April 24, 2021 Share Posted April 24, 2021 Very good photos. Still... On 4/20/2021 at 3:53 PM, JohnJ said: The conchodial fractures and soft gloss indicate a microcrystalline quartz based rock like flint, agate, chalcedony, chert, etc. All of which are too brittle to carve at that scale. Check your premises here. On 4/20/2021 at 2:26 PM, JohnJ said: When you understand the structural properties of the stone you found, then you will understand it is 99.99999999% ( ) not a possibility of being human carved inscriptions. The crystal structure of flint would make "carving" these tiny marks impossible. The stone is too brittle. On 4/20/2021 at 11:26 AM, JohnJ said: I agree with the others. You are seeing the random intersection and weathering of conchodial fractures in flint / chalcedony rocks. Here are additional examples and closeups. From the closeups above you could imagine any number of "carvings". 2 The human mind has the ability to believe anything is true. - JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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