Ancient Craft - Dr. James Dilley - Carved stone balls (also known as petrospheres) are curious objects from the Scottish Neolithic. Their function has been debated for decades with no clear answer
![5.2.4 'Special' stone artefacts (e.g. carved stone balls and maceheads) | The Scottish Archaeological Research Framework 5.2.4 'Special' stone artefacts (e.g. carved stone balls and maceheads) | The Scottish Archaeological Research Framework](https://scarf.scot/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2012/02/Maceheads.jpg)
5.2.4 'Special' stone artefacts (e.g. carved stone balls and maceheads) | The Scottish Archaeological Research Framework
![Collections Conversations: The Carved Stone Balls of Late Neolithic Scotland – University Museums in Scotland Collections Conversations: The Carved Stone Balls of Late Neolithic Scotland – University Museums in Scotland](https://www.umis.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Carved_stone_balls.jpg)
Collections Conversations: The Carved Stone Balls of Late Neolithic Scotland – University Museums in Scotland
![Illustration from "Notes of Small Ornamented Stone Balls" from "Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland… | Prehistoric art, Ancient art, Neolithic art Illustration from "Notes of Small Ornamented Stone Balls" from "Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland… | Prehistoric art, Ancient art, Neolithic art](https://i.pinimg.com/564x/5e/fc/57/5efc5723a0cb31a128658951ea39c23c.jpg)
Illustration from "Notes of Small Ornamented Stone Balls" from "Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland… | Prehistoric art, Ancient art, Neolithic art
![Polished, 5,500-Year-Old Stone Balls Found in Neolithic Scottish Tomb | Smart News| Smithsonian Magazine Polished, 5,500-Year-Old Stone Balls Found in Neolithic Scottish Tomb | Smart News| Smithsonian Magazine](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/OIruou8eysKzX3vRcETatKUE01I=/1072x720/filters:no_upscale():focal(530x412:531x413)/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/2b/f8/2bf885ff-924d-4142-8698-b651ef68dad2/picture-ball1.png)
Polished, 5,500-Year-Old Stone Balls Found in Neolithic Scottish Tomb | Smart News| Smithsonian Magazine
![Graham Taylor on Twitter: "Replica Scottish Neolithic carved stone balls including Towie Ball about to leave my workshop #archaeology http://t.co/MXD856mBgr" / Twitter Graham Taylor on Twitter: "Replica Scottish Neolithic carved stone balls including Towie Ball about to leave my workshop #archaeology http://t.co/MXD856mBgr" / Twitter](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CAOffKHWgAAKd-8.jpg)