# Anybody know what this carved stone may be? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 29, 2012, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-what-this-carved-stone-may-be/611108 "2012-01-29T20:13:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-what-this-carved-stone-may-be/611108/21 "2012-01-30T01:52:41Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Chance of that thing being cursed: 100% This. Contact your local police department and ask if there’s any correlation between recent grisly unexplained murders/house fires and newly gravelled driveways. And don’t give it as a gift to anyone you care about. However, do see if you can palm it off on a sworn enemy. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-what-this-carved-stone-may-be/611108/22 "2012-01-30T02:03:00Z")
> [@Quintas](#): > > its also magnetic: [Imgur: The magic of the Internet](http://i.imgur.com/Hwky2.jpg) Definitely cursed. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-what-this-carved-stone-may-be/611108/23 "2012-01-30T02:43:21Z")
To be clear, in the magnet picture, that’s some other permanent magnet holding it, right? Does it stick on its own to plain steel? If it’s holding its own weight like that against ordinary steel, it’s almost certainly of modern origin. ---
**Author:** ![Quintas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/48db29/32.png) [@Quintas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quintas)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-what-this-carved-stone-may-be/611108/24 "2012-01-30T02:45:04Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > To be clear, in the magnet picture, that’s some other permanent magnet holding it, right? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-what-this-carved-stone-may-be/611108/25 "2012-01-30T02:58:48Z")
I love that it’s hanging in front of a picture of itself. -D/a ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-what-this-carved-stone-may-be/611108/26 "2012-01-30T03:00:29Z")
Stay away from the Frogurt. And what the hell is that thing holding it up in the second picture? A giant coloured locust with a magnet in its thorax? ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-what-this-carved-stone-may-be/611108/27 "2012-01-30T06:36:15Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Stay away from the Frogurt. > > And what the hell is that thing holding it up in the second picture? A giant coloured locust with a magnet in its thorax? Yes it is. ‘Magnetrax’ spawned when OP first touched the stone. Please just ignore him for now. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-what-this-carved-stone-may-be/611108/28 "2012-01-30T09:14:36Z")
The Indians may have seen magnetism as spiritual. A medicine man may have carved the stone and used it in rituals. A rock that could move another rock (iron ore) would have been very powerful magic in a pre-industrial society. Even today people are selling magnetic bracelets for pain. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-what-this-carved-stone-may-be/611108/29 "2012-01-30T13:05:41Z")
That’s really cool! Please keep us posted, OP, about what (if anything) eventually happens to this piece! ---
**Author:** ![Quintas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/48db29/32.png) [@Quintas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quintas)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-what-this-carved-stone-may-be/611108/30 "2012-01-30T17:00:59Z")
Beside a coin, to show it’s size. [![](https://i.imgur.com/kTE7O.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/kTE7O.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-what-this-carved-stone-may-be/611108/31 "2012-01-30T19:20:54Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Chance of that thing being cursed: 100% Good point. Isn’t this how _The Exorcist_ started? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-what-this-carved-stone-may-be/611108/32 "2012-01-30T19:30:17Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > Good point. Isn’t this how _The Exorcist_ started? Oh crap. Well it was nice knowing you **Quintas**. I’d avoid eating any pea soup for a while. ---
**Author:** ![Toucanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Toucanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toucanna)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-what-this-carved-stone-may-be/611108/33 "2012-01-31T01:36:47Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > {snip} I will give you $100+ shipping for it right now (seriously). Ninja’d!..and outbid. ☹ But seriously, those are wicked cool carvings. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-what-this-carved-stone-may-be/611108/34 "2012-08-26T02:32:53Z")
Do not try to clean, apply toothbrush, or apply some sort of chemical to clean. Part of the surface already looks weathered. With luck, experts might still be able to date it and identify its place of origin. And no, don’t use it as a paperweight or even let too many hands hold it. ---
**Author:** ![kyogi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/51bf81/32.png) [@kyogi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kyogi)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-what-this-carved-stone-may-be/611108/35 "2012-08-26T06:17:47Z")
If you are taking bids, I’m there. ---
**Author:** ![kyogi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/51bf81/32.png) [@kyogi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kyogi)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-what-this-carved-stone-may-be/611108/36 "2012-08-26T06:20:15Z")
[http://www.arrowheads.com/forum/indian-artifacts-and-arrowheads/358-snake-head](http://www.arrowheads.com/forum/indian-artifacts-and-arrowheads/358-snake-head) ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-what-this-carved-stone-may-be/611108/37 "2012-08-26T06:42:21Z")
Another one, on Flickr: [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/4019/4368658415_4f7961219c_b.jpg "Stone Salamander") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/atleiser/4368658415/in/set-72157623339045071/) ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-what-this-carved-stone-may-be/611108/38 "2012-08-26T06:46:31Z")
Frog model? [http://io9.com/frog-people/](http://io9.com/frog-people/) ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-what-this-carved-stone-may-be/611108/39 "2012-08-26T07:26:12Z")
Is there some law that says all antiquities and archaeological artifacts automatically belong to the Federal Gov’t, or anything like that? If you take it to a museum to inquire about, will they confiscate it? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-what-this-carved-stone-may-be/611108/40 "2012-08-26T18:42:10Z")
Given its clearly magnetic aspect, I wonder if it is not a cast iron ornamental piece from an andiron or boot scraper or similar object. It might be quite old, (although not older than European settlement), or it could be fewer than 100 years old, simply weathered from being mashed in with gravel. As to snake, turtle, or amphibian, etc., while it may not be anatomically correct for a given genus, there is no evidence, (yet), that its maker had any knowledge of various anatomies. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-what-this-carved-stone-may-be/611108.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-what-this-carved-stone-may-be/611108.md?page=3)