We all know the largest lake in New Hampshire: Lake Winnipesaukee.

It is home to so many summer memories for a lot of Granite State families, and some outside state guests.

But it's not just a gorgeous family and friends summer destination. There is also some really cool, unknown history linked to Lake Winnipesaukee. And it all stems from this four-by-two-inch artifact:

Photo credit: John Phelan (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Photo credit: John Phelan (CC BY-SA 3.0)
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This little guy is known as the Lake Winnipesaukee Mystery Stone.

The stone was discovered in 1872 while a group of workers were digging a fence post for Seneca Ladd, near Lake Winnipesaukee, according to an Atlas Obscura article.

For unknown reasons, the egg-shaped stone was "drilled through from end to end with two different sized tools, and polished smooth along its surface," according to the Atlas Obscura.

The early explanations made sense at first. Perhaps a peace treaty between tribes at the time. It was later hypothesized, however, that it was an ancient tool of some kind.

A recent analysis suggested that it was a hoax and the hole through the stone was too precise to have been crafted by ancient peoples. Unfortunately, that position simply gave way to explanations including extraterrestrials and further muddled the debate.

Photo credit: John Phelan (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Photo credit: John Phelan (CC BY-SA 3.0)
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Imagine that...thoughts that this artifact was tampered with by aliens...

What is known for sure is that it was crafted in the mid to late 1800s and is the coolest egg-shaped piece of New Hampshire history I have ever seen.

The egg has been stored at the New Hampshire Historical Society for 85 years and counting.

You can see the stone on display at the New Hampshire Historical Society. It is located behind the capitol building. "Go up the stairs in front of the entrance. (Right side of stairs) turn left at the top of the stairs. The stone is located in a display in the hallway near a staff lounge," according to the Atlas Obscura.

Photo of Lake Winnipesaukee mystery stone at the New Hampshire Historical Society by John Phelan (CC BY-SA 3.0 – no changes made)

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