Hi, for those who previewed my sad attempt of loading up images on my previous post (that has been now deleted), I must apologize!! Turns out that Chrome (at least for me) doesn't like posting images vs. Firefox. Anyways, here's the previous posting. Once again, any info would be greatly appreciated!!!

Hi! I have been collecting minerals for some time now, and my son as well has joined me. As of a few years ago we ventured out of the strictly mineral collection and into the stone artifact range or items. Recently I found a small rock that has me as well as a couple of geology students going for their doctorates stumped as to what this item exactly is. There is no natural process that we can think of that would cause for these scratches to occur (weaker material weathered away, frost and ice, heat, water, etc.).

It looks like that it must have been created by hand, and the weathering of the scratches indicate that it most likely had been created some time ago. The rock was found in Evanston Illinois, just north of Chicago in a city along lake Michigan. The specific type of rock if I'm not mistaken very well may not be native to the area, however was dragged down from Canada during the Ice Age.

If anyone has any idea as to what this may be... I would love to hear any suggestions! It's pretty abstract, and don't think that it is likely to be anything, nonetheless, I feel that it would be a good idea to run this item by a group who knows more about this topic than I do! The first pic shows the front side with the primary picture that I speak of, and the second picture includes the backside of the rock. The last image is the same as the first, just oriented on the side (this is actually how the picture was taken). I have included the side view simple cause it creates for a different motif when viewed in such a manner, more of a pattern vs. picture.

Thanks!!!!
Jeff Kretchmer