Stone of Destiny Mystery Cache
Hidden : 4/10/2011
Difficulty:
4 out of 5
Terrain:
3.5 out of 5

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

The cache is NOT at the published coordinates, you'll need to solve the puzzle to find it. Bring your own ink.

Early reports of this famous and mythical stone are shrouded in legend and mystery. It is the stone which, up until recent years, was placed underneath the coronation chair upon which all British monarchs were crowned.

According to legend the 153kg rock came from the Holy Land, where Jacob supposedly used it as a pillow in Biblical times. Transported through Egypt, Sicily and Spain, it was finally taken to Ireland and then to Scotland where it was used in many Scottish coronations, the last being that of John Balliol when he ascended the Scottish Throne.

It was stolen from Scotland by King Henry the First of England and for 783 years it was kept in Westminster Abbey. It has now joined the other Scottish Royal artefacts: the Crown, Sceptre, Sword and Jewels to make up the five Royal Scottish Regalia. They are now housed in a closely-guarded museum in Edinburgh Castle.

Sometimes referred to as the “Stone of Scone”, this artefact has been the source of much military and political turmoil. Notably at the treaty of Northampton of 1377, peace was finally restored between England and Scotland. The monarch at the time, King Edward the Third of England promised to return the Stone to its rightful owners immediately. But somehow the English never got around to fulfilling their end of the bargain. Despite no less than five separate petitions by the Scottish government, the Stone of Destiny remained in London until British Prime Minister John Major, with the approval of Her Majesty the Queen, finally arranged to correct this long historical oversight.

Legend holds that a corner of the stone was removed and taken to Australia by Capt. James Cook. Supposedly it was to be used during the coronation of the inaugural Australian monarch. The idea of a constitutional Monarchy in Australia held ground before the formation of the Commonwealth. The corner where the missing fragment was removed can be clearly seen in photos of the original stone (click here). Legend claims that the fragment was originally landed in the remote northern penal colony of Moreton Bay ready for transportation to the southern ports. However it was stolen and secretly hidden on a remote hilltop in the (then) wild, uncharted river systems of Moreton Bay.

Andrew Fisher, the sixth Australian Prime Minister and staunch monarchist, took a keen interest in attempting to recover the stone fragment. He sponsored several expeditions to find it. Twice he even accompanied the expeditions himself, but none were successful. The missing fragment of this enigmatic stone has now disappeared into the mists of time and mystery.

You can check your answers for this puzzle on GeoChecker.com.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Fgbar!

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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