This is the only image of the Gridley Stone in existence and J. Ralston Skinner’s report is the only documentation remaining as to its size. Entrusted in the late 1880’s to The Cincinnati Society of Natural History by C. P. Gridley it has been lost or tossed. We might easily speculate that this was essential to maintaining the prevailing dogma of the time (almost identical to today’s). It might be added that it is essential to certain parties today that the existence of Anglo/Celtic influence and descendants not come to light because then they would no longer own the entire ancient history of the continent and so also any archeological and anthropological discoveries.

It might also have disappeared because the stone just does not appear to be that fantastically important. However, it is. Its drab shape hides so very much. In fact, its mathematical proportions are ingenious and confirm an Anglo presence in this continent long ago.

The words of Mr. Skinner penned some 130 years ago amply describe the topic. The following are excerpts from the “Cincinnati Society of Natural History,” pages 51-55.

THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE BRITISH INCH AS THE UNIT OF MEASURE OF THE MOUND BUILDERS OF THE OHIO VALLEY.

Paper Contributed by J. RALSTON SKINNER, Dec. 1, 1885.

Very fortunate conditions seem to make the identification of the unit of measure of the Mound Builders of the Ohio valley both simple and easy of demonstration. One may go further, and say certain of demonstration, because certainty rests upon but two matters of fact, which on examination will probably be pronounced established. The first of these facts is this : That the measures of a great number of these mounds in the river valleys, and on the river terraces of the State of Ohio, as reported by E. G. Squier and E. H. Davis in their great and now somewhat famous work, “Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley,” published by the Smithsonian Institution in the year 1848, are to be relied on. It is but fair to say that they are reliable;. . . .The second of these facts is as follows : The key to this matter is a stone measure now in possession of The Cincinnati Society of Natural History. This stone was found in and dug out of the Sixth and Mound street mound in the City of Cincinnati at the time of its removal, by Mr. C. P. Gridley, now of the City of Springfield, Ohio. He deposited it in the collection of The Western Academy of Natural Sciences, where it was labeled as contributed by him; the original label being now on the stone. The collection of The Western Academy of Natural Sciences, this stone being part of it, passed into the possession of the present society. . . . . The elliptical mound in which this stone was found is the same in which was recovered the ” Gest Tablet” (Known as the Cincinnati tablet today.) as to which so much has been said and written.

. . .

It happened fortunately, that Mr. R. B. Moore, a member of The Cincinnati Society of Natural History, and former President thereof, became interested in the various discoveries set forth in the works of the writer as to the origin and ancient use of the British measures; as also in the suggestion of their use in the construction of the Mound Builder remains. Having his attention turned that way, it occurred to him to take the measure of the Gridley stone, the outlines of which are here given:

Caption reads:

Around the curve from the shoulder of the stone above B in direction of the arrows to E is 12 standard inches. The right line face between these is 9 standard inches. The stone is the half of the ellipse and drawn twice, reversing it. The figure is reduced one-half size from the exact facsimile. The edge of the stone on diameter is beveled, and right line CF is 9 inches also. From E to D to fill the space of the worn point is 11/50 of an inch. The measure of the curve was made December 21, 1882, by use of a strip of firm paper, and referred to a standard rule.

. . . .

The fact that this unit of measure so fits in this exceedingly curious mode of making, showing and preserving a standard of measure is proof of the general intention of the contriver. Couple this fact with another, viz., that the mound in which it was found was an elliptical one “about 440 feet in circumference” a peculiar division of 5280 feet, (for 5280/12 = 440) used much in Mound structure. (An English mile consists of 5280 feet.)

End of excerpt.

On page 237 of the report the thickness of the piece is noted to be 4 /12 or .33 inches thick. The size of the stone is then 9 exact inches along the straight edge. Twelve along the curve and .33 inches thick. This gives us several numbers immediately: 9, 12 and .33. Part of Mr. Skinner’s paper deals with the numerical relationships that can be developed. More have been found and are listed below. These three numbers can be used to find the following:

9 + 12 = 21 …………reverse 21 and find 12

12 – 9 = 3 ………..  it is .33 inches thick

9 + 12 x .33 = 7 ………..Days in a week.

(9 + 12) /.33 = 63.6363………..a repeating decimal which in reverse reads 3636.36

………………………………………….Multiply 63.6363… by pi and obtain 200.

9 x 12 x .33 = 36 ………….Inches in a yard.

9 x 12 = 108 …………….The average distance from the Earth to the Moon is 108 Moon diameters.

12 x .33 = 4  and  9 x .33 = 3

The ratio of 9 to 12 is 3/4 and 12 to 9 is 4/3. This gives the 34 and 43 found in other tablets and art in this series.

9 + 12 – .33 = 20.67 Multiply this by 9 and find 186. …………The diameter of Earth’s orbit is 186 million miles.

Instead multiply this 20.67 by 12 and find 248. ……………..The circumference of the planet is 24880 miles.

Assemble them as 912 and obtain the closest distance Earth travels to the Sun or 91.2 million miles.

Assemble them as 129 and note that a square of sides 912 has a diagonal of 1290.

Since one half of the stone’s exterior measures 12 the entire circumference of the ellipse measures 24 plus the distance across the beveled edges. The worn point is noted to measure 11/50″ or .22 inches. Assuming this distance times four is required to complete the circumference, the total becomes 24.88 inches. Compare this to the circumference of the Earth at 24880 miles.

There are other numbers to be found. The following measures were found by scaling the image:

The length from the tip to the furthest end of the round end is 9.12 inches which repeats the 9 and 12 and this repeats the idea of the closest distance Earth travels around the Sun.

The length of oval made of two halves is 9.36″ (scaled). This suggests the average distance from Earth to the Sun. The width across the image is 5.53″ (scaled). This is so close to 5.6 that it is likely this is what this length should measure. The mound in which this was found was 440 feet in diameter. The circumference of the planet divided by 440 is 56.5 miles. The difference between the dimensions 9.36 and 5.53 is 3.83 or one half of 7.66. If the value 5.53 is corrected to 5.6 the difference doubled is 7.52. More likely the values should be, based on significant digits, 9.4 and 5.6 which gives a doubled difference of 7.6. The period of Halley’s Comet is 76 years.

The long axis of the ellipse scales to 9.73″ and the short axis to 4.80″. This is twice 4.88 x twice 2.40. The latter suggests the hours in a day. The difference between the two is 2.48 and this suggests the circumference of Earth. The product of the two is twice 5.85. The distance Earth travels in a year in its elliptical orbit is 584 million miles.

Consider the symbolism contained in the half ellipse. Does it represent half of Earth’s elliptical orbit? Or does it represent a crater? Does the full ellipse represent the eye of the comet Baal or does it represent Earth’s full orbit? Does the wedge shape represent a shard that struck Earth? Or was it made just to record accurately 9″ and 12″? One measure is random coincidence. The Wilmington Stone measures 5″ by 3.8″. The Cincinnati Tablet measured in 1885 by Skinner is 3.00″ x 5.00″ x 5/8 inch thick. The width of the narrow middle is 2.5 inches. The evidence cannot be overcome. There is no coincidence. Units of measure in common with ancient England implies trade and commerce with ancient Ohioans. The austere stone provided too much proof of this common heritage. And so, it had to go.

The beautiful Ohio Adena Pipe now a Ohio State symbol is up after the list of numbers arrived at during this study is examined. After that, we have yet to explore the Hopewell Shaman – Bear and translate the Grave Creek Stone. Many interesting posts are to come.

Back to the very beginning of series on Adena Tablets

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Posts on: McKensie and Bainbridge Tablets, Cincinnati Tablet,

Egyptian Art Comparison, Wilmington Tablet, Lakin A Tablet,

The Gaitskill Clay Tablet, Allen Tablet, Grave Creek,

The Kiefer Tablet, Wright, Lakin B and Meigs Tablets,

Berlin Tablet, Gaitskill Stone Tablet, The Low Tablet,

The Waverly Tablet, Metcalf Stone, and pdf article on

Hudson Bay as a comet crater of recent origin.