Skystone
| Glacial erratic rock | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 47°09′14″N 122°11′41″W / 47.153807°N 122.194685°WCoordinates: 47°09′14″N 122°11′41″W / 47.153807°N 122.194685°W |
|---|---|
| Composition | |
| Andesite | |
The Skystone is an andesite glacial erratic boulder in Bonney Lake, Washington.
The stone may have astronomical significance to the Puyallup tribe of Native Americans. It was called by an archaeoastronomer "the new world Stonehenge",[1] with pits pounded into its surface that align with the sun's position on the solstices. 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.[2] It is listed and preserved as an archaeological site by the Washington State Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation.[2][3][4][5]
The stone's height and width are 4.5 by 12 feet (1.4 m × 3.7 m).[1][4]
References
- 1 2 Teresa Herriman (April 30, 2009), "Artifact rests in housing development", Bonney Lake Courier-Herald, archived from the original on 2015-06-08
- 1 2 Beauchamp, Douglas (2013), "Bonney Lake Skystone", Rock Art Oregon: Rock Art in the West (Eugene, Oregon)
- ↑ Rob Tucker (January 26, 2004), "Bonney Lake, Wash., Preserves Puyallup Indians' Tribal Observatory", Tacoma News Tribune (Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News) – via HighBeam (subscription required)
- 1 2 Puyallup to preserve historic tribal observatory, Associated Press, January 27, 2004 – via HighBeam (subscription required)
- ↑ Brian Beckley (September 27, 2012), "Bonney Lake's historical treasures: Best of the Plateau 2012", Bonney Lake-Sumner Courier-Herald Reporter
Further reading
- "The night sky as a cultural resource", Official blog (Washington State Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation), October 8, 2009
- James Hicks, "Bonney Lake Skystone", Strange Destinations
- Anna Edmonds, Skystone, Bainbridge Island, Washington: Battle Point Astronomical Association
- Doug Kirby; Ken Smith; Mike Wilkins, eds. (c. 2004). "Bonney Lake, Washington: Skystone - Mysterious Astro-Rock". Roadside America. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
- Winona Jacobsen; Greater Bonney Lake Historical Society (2011). Bonney Lake's Plateau. Arcadia Publishing. p. 9–11. ISBN 9780738582085.
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