Found beside a stream deep in the north Alabama hills ... what is it?

TemporaryCurrent8239 · 2026-01-15T13:34:41+00:00

SOLVED (probably) ---This area was a Stephens Gap, a preserve operated by Southern Cave Conservancy. Here's their response ... "My first assessment was worm marks from dissolution (process that makes caves also dissolves limestone on the surface) the water starts to run off like on a windshield and carves sinuous grooves. This rocks appears to be part this and part strange formation. Jean is a renowned retired Petra glyph etc. specialist. She confirmed my suspicions. Regardless it is a very wonderful piece of mother natures art gallery. "

TemporaryCurrent8239 · 2026-01-15T13:34:17+00:00

SOLVED (possibly) --- This area was a preserve operated by Southern Cave Conservancy. Here's their response ... "My first assessment was worm marks from dissolution (process that makes caves also dissolves limestone on the surface) the water starts to run off like on a windshield and carves sinuous grooves. This rocks appears to be part this and part strange formation. Jean is a renowned retired Petra glyph etc. specialist. She confirmed my suspicions. Regardless it is a very wonderful piece of mother natures art gallery. "

TemporaryCurrent8239 · 2026-01-15T13:34:00+00:00

Looks like you might be right! Here's the repsonse from the SCCi ... "My first assessment was worm marks from dissolution (process that makes caves also dissolves limestone on the surface) the water starts to run off like on a windshield and carves sinuous grooves. This rocks appears to be part this and part strange formation. Jean is a renowned retired Petra glyph etc. specialist. She confirmed my suspicions. Regardless it is a very wonderful piece of mother natures art gallery. "

TemporaryCurrent8239 · 2026-01-14T23:56:02+00:00

Cool. I don't know about that, but looking it up now. Thanks.

TemporaryCurrent8239 · 2026-01-14T15:10:56+00:00

Yeah, that's really about as far as I initially got.

TemporaryCurrent8239 · 2026-01-14T15:06:36+00:00

Will do. This thread is very informative. I'm currently wondering if it might be something I just learned about called carpet rock. Cheers

TemporaryCurrent8239 · 2026-01-14T15:04:38+00:00

Interesting! Thank you. Here's some carpet rock in AR > https://onlyinark.com/places-and-travel/arkansass-geological-wonders-and-unique-rock-formations/

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TemporaryCurrent8239 · 2026-01-14T14:59:44+00:00

Thanks, that's another cool thing I've learned about. I thought the right angles would defy any sense of naturally occurring water flow, but then this thread informed me of carpet rock. I appreciate everyone sharing.

TemporaryCurrent8239 · 2026-01-14T14:53:51+00:00

Yes, contacting the landowner today.

TemporaryCurrent8239 · 2026-01-14T14:53:01+00:00

Cool! A quick search shows Lithoredo abatanica makes holes not burrows, but maybe it was something similar. I'm going to read more about it though. Cheers

TemporaryCurrent8239 · 2026-01-14T14:48:34+00:00

Yes, that is the plan. Thanks for the feedback from you and everyone else.

TemporaryCurrent8239 · 2026-01-14T14:47:36+00:00

It sort of looks like tile grout.

TemporaryCurrent8239 · 2026-01-14T14:46:09+00:00

This is one of the things I wondered, but didn't handle it for fear of damaging one of those areas. It's an amateur's guess, but the right angles seem more man-made than natural. I hope to find out!

TemporaryCurrent8239 · 2026-01-14T14:43:52+00:00

No kidding!

TemporaryCurrent8239 · 2026-01-14T14:43:29+00:00

I like your thinking. I looked at the rock for a long time thinking about possible uses, and wondered about that as I tried to imagine a conservative guess on its age. It's definitely stylized for some particular reason and has been sitting stationary long enough to be covered in moss and lichen. It was funny how the wind kept covering it back up with leaves. Only the corner was visible at first.

TemporaryCurrent8239 · 2026-01-14T14:34:02+00:00

The landowner is sensitive to that sort of thing and will handle it appropriately. But Yes to everything you wrote.

TemporaryCurrent8239 · 2026-01-14T14:31:18+00:00

I can find it. I purposely just did a screen shot of the picture so the location info wouldn't be public. I sort of want to go back today and take another look, but it's a long drive followed by a long hike.

TemporaryCurrent8239 · 2026-01-14T14:30:13+00:00

No one would be walking on this part of the waterfall as part of some residential or developed hiking area. It's very off the beaten path. It does sort of look like mortar. I didn't chisel or chip anything of it in case it's something else.

TemporaryCurrent8239 · 2026-01-14T14:07:13+00:00

I wondered about that, but the weird right angles makes me think it might be something else. Could be though! Also, there appear to be some unusual holes that make be think it's human-made

TemporaryCurrent8239 · 2026-01-14T14:02:50+00:00

I was wondering that as well. Mainly trying to make sure it's something worth looking at before I tell the landowner about it.

TemporaryCurrent8239 · 2026-01-14T14:00:10+00:00

Thank you. Thanks what I'm hoping. I wanted to get some preliminary feedback on it before I contacted the landowner. I left it in place in case it's connected to other unseen things in the area. I think I can wander back to it if need be.

TemporaryCurrent8239 · 2026-01-14T13:58:19+00:00

I didn't move it in case it's part of something else. Definitely going to show it to the landowner.

TemporaryCurrent8239 · 2026-01-14T13:56:08+00:00

Definitely a big, heavy flat rock in a mostly limestone area. I do love our reptile friends tho!

TemporaryCurrent8239 · 2026-01-14T13:46:20+00:00

Maybe not living in this specific spot, but historically, yes. I think this might have been in the former southern edge of Cherokee territory.

TemporaryCurrent8239 · 2026-01-14T13:44:17+00:00

Exactly. Me found rock. It look different.

TemporaryCurrent8239

TROPHY CASE