Francine Stone, PhD, of the UK, Islamic Expert, to Speak to Newtown Quakers about her Discovery of Ancient Indian Ocean Caves

Francine Stone, Islamic Expert, to Speak to Quakers about her Discovery of Ancient Indian Ocean Caves

Francine Stone, born in Bucks County and now more often in Oxfordshire, England, and a member of Newtown Quaker Meeting, will speak on “The Caves of Socotra: Underworld Journey Back Into Time” at the historic Quaker Meetinghouse, 219 Court Street, Newtown, Sunday, October 25th at 9:45 AM. Meeting for Worship in the manner of Friends will follow at 11 a.m. The public is invited. www.newtownfriendsmeeting.org).

Francine Stone was led by chance into an unusual cave with inscrutable petroglyphs in its depths on the island of Socotra in the Indian Ocean while working in Yemen as a researcher, historian, and environmental conservationist. Her academic specialty is in the early and medieval human geography of the Red Sea coast, Southern Arabia and Gulf of Aden.

Stone said, “The Indian Ocean Island of Socotra is a unique world on its surface and an astonishing legacy is to be found in its caves. Who were the ancient peoples who went deep into the Island’s darkness? What do we make of the signs –made in wonder, made in awe? - they left on those cavern walls? The story is only beginning to yield its answers to archeologists and specialists who have taken up the study of what is nicknamed “Francine’s Cave.”

Francine Stone has traveled widely throughout Europe, Middle East, Asia, Madagascar, Indian Ocean, East Africa, Sudan, and North Africa. Her multi-faceted career has included stints in New York, London, and Paris as a Journalist, Theatre Producer, Literary Agent, Playwright, and actress in World Theatre. While based in London, she was also editor of several scholarly journals and publications on Red Sea and South Arabian Studies and was the Convener of 1st Red Sea Conference for the British Museum.

Stone received her early education at Newtown Friends School and the Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr. She received a BA English Literature from

Harvard University, an MA in English Literature from the University of London, and a PhD in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Manchester, UK.

Francine Stone is married, has two grown children, and currently divides her time among the Outer Hebrides, London, South Oxfordshire, Porto, New York and Newtown. Asked about her hobbies, she said “I am passionate about organic farming, birds, words and the resonance of human endeavor.” She is on the Board of Trustees and Vice President of the David Library of the American Revolution in Washington Crossing.

Newtown Friends Meeting, co-founded by the Quaker artist and minister, Edward Hicks, in 1815, holds services every First Day (Sunday). During the school year, First Day classes for children and adults are at 9:45 a.m. and Meeting for Worship at 11:00 a.m. Professional childcare is provided. All meetings are open to the public and visitors are warmly welcomed.