Skystone, Glacial boulder in Bonney Lake, Washington, US
Skystone is a large andesite boulder in Bonney Lake, Washington, marked by numerous pits covering its surface. The stone was transported here by glaciers and remains an important archaeological site managed by the state.
The stone was transported to the Puget Sound region by glaciers during the last ice age, roughly 13,000 years ago. This movement shaped the landscape that would later be home to the Puyallup people.
The stone held meaning for the Puyallup people as a place for observation and connection to the land around them. Its pits suggest it served as a reference point in their everyday understanding of the landscape.
The boulder sits in a residential area of Bonney Lake, roughly one mile south of the former Naches Trail route. It is listed and preserved as an archaeological site by the Washington State Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, so visitors should view the pits without touching or altering the stone. The ground around it is uneven, and sturdy shoes help.
The pits in the stone's surface point toward nearby geographical landmarks like Mount Rainier and Mount Saint Helens, acting like a natural compass. This arrangement may have served a practical purpose for navigation or identifying key features across the landscape.
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