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Skystone

For the Canadian semiconductor company, see Skystone Systems. For the 1992 novel, see The Skystone.
Skystone
Glacial erratic rock
Coordinates47°09′14″N 122°11′41″W / 47.153807°N 122.194685°W / 47.153807; -122.194685 (Skystone)
Composition
Andesite
Large pit on Skystone
Smaller pits on the Skystone

The Skystone is an andesite glacial erratic boulder in Bonney Lake, Washington. The boulder was deposited approximately 13,000 years ago.[1] The stone's height and width are 4.5 by 12 feet (1.4 m × 3.7 m).[2][3]

Uses

The stone may have astronomical significance to the Puyallup tribe of Native Americans. It has over 20 pits pounded into its surface that appear to be man-made.[1] The holes seem to point towards both astronomical and geographic features. The holes point in the direction of Polaris, Sirius, the Little Dipper, and Orion. The stone may have also been used to predict lunar standstills.[4] Some of the holes align with the sun's position on the solstices,[2] which may have allowed Native Americans to predict the changing of seasons.[4] Pits in the surface of the boulder also appear to point towards Mt. Rainier, the peak of Mt. St. Helens (before it erupted), and potentially Mt. Adams, all of which have significance for local Native tribes.[4]

The stone is about one mile south of the former Naches Trail, and was apparently rediscovered when a suburban housing development was begun in 1999.[5] It is listed and preserved as an archaeological site by the Washington State Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation.[5][6][3][7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Jacobsen, Winona (2011-01-01). Bonney Lake's Plateau. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738582085.
  2. ^ a b Teresa Herriman (April 30, 2009), "Artifact rests in housing development", Bonney Lake Courier-Herald, archived from the original on 2016-03-04
  3. ^ a b Puyallup to preserve historic tribal observatory, Associated Press, January 27, 2004, archived from the original on April 9, 2016
  4. ^ a b c webster, peter (2017-04-17). "[Dipity] ~ Mystery Of The Skystone ~". Retrieved 2017-03-15.
  5. ^ a b Beauchamp, Douglas (2013), "Bonney Lake Skystone", Rock Art Oregon: Rock Art in the West, Eugene, Oregon
  6. ^ Rob Tucker (January 26, 2004), "Bonney Lake, Wash., Preserves Puyallup Indians' Tribal Observatory", Tacoma News Tribune, Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News, archived from the original on November 20, 2018
  7. ^ Brian Beckley (September 27, 2012), "Bonney Lake's historical treasures: Best of the Plateau 2012", Bonney Lake-Sumner Courier-Herald Reporter
Informational sign at the Skystone site

Further reading

  • Media related to Skystone at Wikimedia Commons
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