Stone with mystery marking-- California coast (any theories?)

[cantworkthesite]

This was found on the California coast just south of Carmel CA (between Carmel River Beach and Monastery Beach for those familiar with the area). Now I know shoreline rocks with long linear digs in them are not uncommon....but this is not a permanently embedded large size beach rock. Its about the size of a volleyball (of course much heavier and denser) and weighs 10 to 15 pounds or so. Something you can pick up, carry around in other words. So I am puzzled as to the numerous linear marks on this stone. Simply nature? California coastal Indians? Marooned mariners making their own astronomy stone? Though I can't make out anything specific, there does seem to be some rhyme and reason to the lines-- but what, I'm not sure.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Treasure of Victoria Peak - Grab it through Amazon!

[ANTIQUARIAN]

To me, the marks on your rock look to be natural.
If I'd found it in my part of the country, I would say it looks like glacial scars, could also be plow strikes.

Dave

PS. I'll be in Santa Cruz a week Friday, maybe I'll drive down to see if I can find a souvenir to bring home.

 

[cantworkthesite]

Thanks Antiquarian-- I never thought about plow strikes. I'll have to see if I can find images of other stones with such strikes. As far as nature, just seems like there wouldn't be enough surface on this stone (a little smaller in diameter than a basketball) for nature to strike so consistently and semi-uniformly. But maybe I could be wrong.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Thanks Antiquarian-- I never thought about plow strikes. I'll have to see if I can find images of other stones with such strikes. As far as nature, just seems like there wouldn't be enough surface on this stone (a little smaller in diameter than a basketball) for nature to strike so consistently and semi-uniformly. But maybe I could be wrong.

Here's a stone I brought home from a farm field hunt, it was 'glowing yellow' in the early morning sun.
I used Museum Conservators Wax and a buffing wheel to polish it up... notice the 'plow strikes'.

My wife doesn't appreciate it the way I do, mainly because it now sits on our dining room window sill.
Dave

 

[ticndig]

maybe a boat prop or hull scratched it up .

 

[A2coins]

That's pretty cool looks like the rock was knocked around pretty good lol

 

[cantworkthesite]

That's one unusual looking stone-- are you sure that's not a fossilized prehistoric egg??

 

[cantworkthesite]

I've wondered about a boat anchor or something... just seems like the boat or anchor or prop would really have to keep consistently keep going across the surface of a stone that's not all that big though.