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During the upcoming coronation ceremony of King Charles III in London on May 6, a significant role will be played by the Stone of Destiny.
This artifact is an ancient Scottish carved seat with an estimated minimum age of 800 years. Recent findings, announced in a news release highlighting the research, reveal previously unnoticed symbols and “anomalies” on the stone that had never been documented before.
These peculiarities, including a copper alloy stain and remnants of gypsum plaster, imply the existence of undocumented aspects in this historical block of stone, also referred to as the Stone of Scone. These findings further deepen its mysterious history, scientists say.
The role of the Stone of Destiny through history
In the 13th century, the Stone of Destiny played an important role in the coronation ceremonies of Scottish monarchs. It was seized from Scotland and transported to England in 1296, remaining there until the 20th century when it was finally returned. The stone’s history prior to the 13th century remains largely unknown.
Currently, it still holds a ritual significance in the coronation of the United Kingdom’s monarch.
During the modern-day ceremony, the stone is positioned within the coronation chair where the monarch is seated.
Recently, scientists from Historic Environment Scotland, a public organization responsible for the stone’s preservation, conducted a laser scan and scientific tests on the artifact, uncovering fresh insights.
What was found in the Stone of Destiny?
Roman numerals
One of the main discoveries are the markings resembling Roman numerals, specifically three X-shaped marks followed by what appears to be a “v” symbol.
“The Roman numerals haven’t been recorded before. We do not know why they were carved or what they signify, but we hope that this will be an area for further research,” explained Ewan Hyslop, a researcher at Historic Environment Scotland.
According to Ewan Campbell, a senior lecturer of archaeology at the University of Glasgow in the U.K., who commented on these results as an independent expert, the carvings may not be Roman numerals but rather different symbols.
Campbell suggested that they could be crude crosses instead of numerals. He speculates that these markings were likely added to the stone after it was relocated from Scotland to England in 1296, based on their position and the wear of the stone.
Copper alloy stains
The research team also utilized X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis, a relatively non-destructive technique for assessing chemical composition. Through this investigation, they were able to detect a copper alloy stain on the stone. This finding implies that a copper or brass object had been placed on the stone at some point in its history, suggesting the presence of a relic or artifact.
Scientists noted that the presence of these stains could be an even more important finding than numerals.
Traces of gypsum plaster
Further analysis revealed that the Stone of Destiny contains gypsum plaster. This finding suggests the possibility that a plaster cast of the artifact might have been created at some point in its history.
The presence of a cast is surprising, as there are no records or mentions of such a replication being made.
Although the origin of the gypsum plaster on the stone remains unclear, the recent scans and tests have provided scholars with improved accessibility for studying the stone. Due to its infrequent movement and limited public access, examining the stone in its entirety, especially up-close, has been challenging.
3D model of the Stone of Destiny is available
The virtual 3D image of the Stone of Destiny created using the laser-based scan technique is now accessible online to both scholars and the public.
This online model allows everyone to examine and evaluate the newly-found evidence firsthand.
Stone of Destiny: Key Facts
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