The Museum of Antiquities and Oddities. ‘Artyfact 5.’
The Stone Folk lived in the territory between Sandgate and
Shakespeare’s point, the coast and the North Downs, during the Pre-Folkestonian
era. Little is fully understood about this ancient Pre-Celtic flint using tribal
civilisation; but such fragments of knowledge as we have, are here assembled for
the purpose of research into this fascinating but little studied epoch.
The Stone Folk were coastal gatherers, who harvested the sea by fishing and
collecting crabs, lobsters and shellfish. They were skilled boat builders, and
were known to have traded with other tribal folk both around our coast and on
the continent. In fact, the discovery of several flint artefacts, both figurines
and finely crafted tools, has led some researchers in the field to propose that
they traded with the ancient Greeks, influencing the development of ancient
Greek Arts and culture. Weight was given to this argument when the remains of a
shipwreck dating from the Pre-Folkestonian era, containing flint artefacts was
discovered close to the straits of Gibraltar, where it is suggested that a Stone
Folk colonial trading post had been set up.
The Stone Folk were a peaceful, creative, democratic matriarchy. An ‘Omargh,’ a
wise woman leader and Priestess, was voted in every five years to make the
important tribal decisions, having discussed them first with the five ‘Elder
men’ and five ‘Elder women’ elected to form the ‘Wizeuns.’ Because generally
they lived in peace for thousands of years, they were able to develop Arts,
crafts and philosophies to such a sophisticated level. It is thought the Celtic
tales of ‘Wizards’ and ‘Magicians,’ were in fact tribal memories of travelling
‘Wizeuns’ from our Pre-Folkestonian era. An elite force of male and female
warriors was trained and well equipped to protect the Stone Folk from marauding
barbarians. A carved flint tablet of the period now found in the British Museum,
‘The Shepway Stone,’ maintains in runic script that they were only used for
defence. ‘Artefact 6’ in the showcase is thought to be a figure of one of these
Stone Folk warriors.
‘Artefact 1.’ A female deity figure of Gwendelah, the legendary Omargh who was
elevated to divine status by the will of the Wizeuns, after she organised the
defeat of an invasion of tribes from the region we now call Calais.
‘Artefact 2.’ ‘The Elusive Pearl of Wisdom.’ The quest for the elusive pearl of
wisdom was undertaken by the greatest Wizeuns, but was in fact never found by
them. In the year 2006, a keen eyed Folkestone Artist; Tony Palmer, spotted this
mysterious flint nodule on the beach, and on breaking it open found the elusive
pearl.
He is still awaiting the wisdom that the pearl is purported to bestow upon its
finder.
‘Artefact 3.’ ‘The Egg of Akti.’ In Stone Folk mythology Akti was the ultimate
Creatrice of the universe. From her loins came forth the egg of flint that burst
open into tiny fragments becoming all that is. This was ‘The Primaeval Egg.’
‘Artefact 4.’ ‘The Phallus of Pankro.’ Pankro was the male deity responsible for
the fertilisation of Akti, in order for her to produce ‘The Primaeval Egg.’
‘Artefact 5.’ ‘St Eanswythe’s Chalice.’ This small stone chalice was discovered
on Folkestone beach in 1880 by amateur archaeologist Major Crustthrupper (ret.)
who thought it to be an early Christian relic due to the cross symbol on the
stem, thus he gave it the misnomer. It is now believed to have been a ceremonial
goblet used to measure the hallucinogenic beverages used by the Stone Folk,
(referred to by some as ‘the stoned folk,’) in their shamanic religious
ceremonies. Found with the chalice was the statuette of ‘Ugladi,’ guardian of
the chalice. He was known as: ‘The bane of the wrong thinkers.’ To this day
Stone Folk artefacts can be found on Folkestone’s beaches.
Nick Spurrier.
Article from Go Folkestone Newsletter December 2007
