A massive sandstone cylinder, weighing 1,350lbs, was identified in the City of Rahway in December of 2023. Up until September of 2023, this artifact had gone unnoticed on the property it was located on and served as a garden pot, housing soil and shrubs. Following an analysis by a professional stonecutter, this hand-carved artifact, which bares visible tool marks on its surfaces, is believed to be of Native American or Early Colonial origin.
The property that the Rahway artifact was discovered on has been confirmed as a Lenni Lenape occupation site and is located two blocks away from the Rahway River, which has connections to the Minisink Trail, a throughway used by the Lenni Lenape tribe that crosses two of the river’s tributaries.
The only known similar artifact was donated to Rutgers University in 1931 and dates back to 1651, having been discovered on Lenni Lenape land along the Raritan River.
The Rahway artifact now resides at the Merchants & Drovers Tavern Museum where it was donated by the salvor, Michael Sancilarti of Big Top Construction, and was transported by the Rahway Department of Public Works.
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