'Carved Stone Balls - a Prehistoric Mystery' is a new exhibition at Marischal Museum (Aberdeen, Scotland) that explores a prehistoric mystery with the help of local children from Woodside School and of the sculptor Keiji Nagahiro.
     Some 4000 years ago a series of decorated stone balls were painstakingly made - they are each about the size of an orange and have a number of regular bosses carved on them. As nearly 90% of the balls have been found in North East Scotland, archaeologists think they were made in this area. No-one knows what the carved stone balls were used for. Archaeologists look at the wear marks, the find spots and the associated finds. This does not solve the mystery. This exhibition suggests some possible ideas from archaeologists, from children from Woodside School and from the sculptor Keiji Nagahiro.
     As over 70 stone balls will be on display from 19 January to 31 March 2004, this is a unique opportunity to see one of the largest collections of these enigmatic carvings.
     At the same time another exhibition at the same museum, titled 'Spirit of Stones'  is showing (until 19 February 2004) the batiks by Annabel Carey. The batiks are all of stone circles and standing stones, many of them in Scotland, including well known north-east sites such as Sunhoney, Cullerlie and Loanhead of Daviot. The title 'Spirit of Stones' sums up the feel of this exhibition: they are very evocative of the atmosphere which surrounds many stone circles and other prehistoric sites.

Source: University of Aberdeen - Marischal Museum (19 January 2004)