Report of a Sculptured Rock 



FROM MARBLEHEAD, O. 



BY PROF. J. E. WERREN. 



Urbana University has recently come into possession of a queer 

 piece of antiquity consisting of a stone, in size and form like the hu- 

 man body. To the superficial observer the object is hardly more than 

 a stone, but whoever lends the massive stone a few moments' investi- 

 gation, to him it becomes an object of interest; out of the moss-cover- 

 ed surface first develops a well shaped head of human form, immedi- 

 ately recalling antique sculptures on the rocks in Egypt with their 

 yet unread hieroglyphic mysteries. 



The shape of the head is oval, widest across the eyes. The upper 

 part, including the forehead, being not square but rounded, while the 

 lower at the chin is of a sharp oval, adds to the face that stern look 

 which characterizes the appearance of the sphinx of Memphis. The 

 details of the eyes and mouth are suggested by indentations rather 

 than executed in their proper places, while the nose is hardly indica- 

 ted by a prominence. The ears and arms are mutilated by the ma- 

 rauder's unmerciful strokes, the efl^ects of which are recognized by the 

 rounding moulds left by the hewn out chips. The neck is finely 

 chiseled and in proportion ; and the arms, although sadly mutilated, 

 can be traced as crossed over the breast. The body is slightly devel- 

 oped above, but is barely traced out below the clasped hands. The 

 stone out of which this strange image is hewn is a hard limestone of 

 the corniferous group, rich in fossils. 



It is perhaps not so much the figure in itself which claims our at- 

 tention, as the untold history suggested by its strange outlines. What 

 purpose did it serve? When was its form chiseled out of the rock? 

 These are questions which naturally follow the first inquiry, and 

 although the answer can not be gathered from any written or printed 

 chronicle, we will endeavor to present a few remarks on these points 

 as communicated by old settlers living near where the image was 

 found. 



