I’m sharing a puzzle with you today: a patterned rock we found a few years ago, somewhere in the North of England. Don’t ask me precisely where, because I’m not sure. It was one of many small treats you find on a moorland walk. If you tend to see things in patterns, there’s scope for the imagination in its ornate surface.
For me, there is one baleful eye, with an unrelated, more amenable Bleep-like character immediately above it (Bleep was the alien spaceman from planet Myron in Bleep and Booster).
I’ve cut out the section here, but enlarging it does not help. To find the alien (roughly centre), look for an eye, then a crooked but generous smile, and two antennae above.
Setting aliens from outer space carved on rocks aside, isn’t it a wonderful piece of stone? My feet got in the way of the picture, but I’ll let myself off as they help convey the size of the rock.
There could be a natural reason for its beautiful surface – the remains of old sea plants, perhaps – or it may have been carved, long ago. My guess, until someone corrects me, is the latter.
Susan Rushton 
I see a scowling pirate complete with pirate hat and eye patch. This is hilarious. I absolutely vote for carved rather than accidental, and I think the wily sculptor was imagining just such future debate over what was in the lines. I bet she was chuckling the whole time she worked on it.
Thanks for the explanation of Bleep. Another literary reference I didn’t know!
I am not sure Bleep counts as literature, although I was a great admirer as a child. I can’t really see the pirate, although there is an exploding volcano.
I have seen patterns like that on rocks in the U.K. and Canada. I’ve often wondered if they’re fossilized tracks of ancient worms/eels/snakes.
I’ve seen plenty of decorative (to me!) tracks on logs from worms, seems like a good possibility!
Eliza made a good suggestion below, although I would much rather they were ancient carvings of aliens. 🙂
Whatever the reason for the carvings, it’s a truly wonderful find. Don’t ask too many questions of it, just accept it for what it is, a magical bit of stone.
That’s a very good approach.
Interesting find what ever caused it.
Even if it is not carved on purpose, it’s still very decorative.
I see the eye and mouth but the antennae escape me.
Photoshop has a foot-remover tool if your aim is petro-purity.
I hope it only works on pictures. 🙂
Aye, on pictures only.
So interesting! I saw the Grinch’s face (the oval around Bleep making the outline of his face and the antennae his arched eyebrows). It would be fun to see the rock with the “carvings” filled in. Would love to know more!
Eliza might have put her finger on it below. I tried to see the Grinch, but the Bleep has the upper hand on my imagination.
Well seen Susan. An alternative may be a fossilised snail trail
I wonder if a trail would last long enough to fossilise. I was reading that some fungi eat stone, though I doubt that they munch it in patterns.
🙂
My guess is metamorphosed sedimentary rock… the lines, possibly plant or mineral matter, that is softer and eroded before the other harder surrounding stone, leaving the appearance of lines. We see them around here as well, looking distinctly plant-like.
I think you’ve persuaded me, Eliza.
I sure do see the alien! However, I have never heard of Bleep and Booster. 😉
It was very early sci-fi for young children. A boy astronaut and an alien boy astronaut had adventures.
Absolutely enchanting and fascinating to ponder ❤
It’s nice to have a mystery.
Most definitely…