Human & AI Reflections on a Mystery Stone

Discovered along the Shenandoah River near Holy Cross Abbey in Virginia, a weathered quartzite cobblestone bears mysterious peck-marked designs that hint at intentional artistry. In this richly illustrated and contemplative study, the author invites readers into a layered investigation—blending archaeology, Indigenous cosmology, visual analysis, and personal reflection.

Rather than forcing a singular explanation, the work honors ambiguity, exploring possible interpretations including archetypal figures such as the avian-man, the skeletal shaman, and the Earth Mother. The imagery echoes the tripartite Indigenous view of the cosmos—Overworld, This World, and Netherworld—and resonates with the symbolic depth of Eastern Woodland traditions.

In a unique collaboration, Artificial Intelligence is employed to help interpret the markings, offering surprising confirmations of the author's insights—and at times, suggesting new possibilities. The correspondences between human and machine perception raise profound questions: could natural formations and ancient intentions sometimes converge?

With an openness rare in academic discourse, Human & AI Reflections on a Mystery Stone invites readers into a journey of layered perception—a portal into the past, a mirror to the present, and a reminder that meaning often arises not from certainty, but from mystery itself.