Carved stone

[Cell]

Looks very similar if not the same to this.

http://www.hitherandyononline.com/Stone_mantras/stonemantras.htm

Definitely the same symbol , well done  - It's probably why it is so familiar to me .

It  also comes back to the garden idea  that alpinecottage suggested .
Perhaps  it was nicked from someone's garden by kids and thrown in the river for fun.

Kind regards

[Maggie.]

What an intriguing object. - makes you want to hold it.

Are there any Buddist retreats nearby, GS?  Perhaps it was intentionally placed in the river.

Maggie

[groom]

Look at this - is it a mani stone?  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mani_stone

[Greensleeves]

Thanks everyone, I think you've cracked it, as they say.  I think it must be a 'mani' stone.  There are gurhkas in this area so it might be that one of them has put such a stone in the river.  It is a beautiful thing and must have taken hours of work to create.

[jess5athome]

There are gurhkas in this area so it might be that one of them has put such a stone in the river.

Hi greensleeves, That said, will it be returned to the river? or perhaps be kept by the finder?
Frank.

[cms]

I was just going to ask the same question!

[Maggie.]

How very interesting.

if this is a mani stone, as seems likely, perhaps it ought to be returned to the river. Would that be possible GS, or would the finder prefer to keep it?

Maggie

[Greensleeves]

It was found by a child who was helping to clear the river.  She is staying with her grandparents and they were going to take it to a local museum.  Other than that, I don't know where it will end up, but it certainly is a beautiful piece.  I agree that it should be returned to the river but I suspect that it will be taken back to Birmingham.

[jess5athome]

It was found by a child who was helping to clear the river.  She is staying with her grandparents and they were going to take it to a local museum.  Other than that, I don't know where it will end up, but it certainly is a beautiful piece.  I agree that it should be returned to the river but I suspect that it will be taken back to Birmingham.

Oh well! C'est la vie,  The child will probably treasure it for a long time.
Frank.