There are many unusual ways in which stone is used and reused today, and many beliefs and stories that are associated with stone. Some of these stones are insignificant in appearance or do not differ from their surroundings, and others are used in ways that are departures from their original use. Much of this activity is related specifically to the lives of women. In the absence of local knowledge it would be difficult to make sense of such stones, or their purpose could be totally ignored. Archaeologists of the future may likewise fail to note their significance or be baffled by the presence of these stones. Archaeologists of the present and past may equally have overlooked the relevance of the use and reuse of insignificant stones, but how can we ever know the truth when it is the result of idiosyncratic behaviour, the rationale behind which may have been lost in the mists of time.
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Last updated: Wed Jul 29 2009