The black box is indeed the main symbol. It represents tradition. The villagers are not sure about the box's history. They recall a chant and a certain handshake that used to go with it. Indeed the original box is tattered and worn, barely holding together. They did make some modifications, replacing wood chips with slips of paper as the villages population grew. The only thing they are really certain about is the use of rocks.
The Lottery, like the box, is shrouded in mystery. No one really knows why they conduct it (other than Old Man Warner making a reference to it having to do with good corn crops in June). They just follow along because it has always been done.
There has been talk of getting rid of the lottery, indeed some towns already have, and there seems to be some talk among the young people of junking the lottery. In this way the lottery is like the box. It is barely clinging together. But just as the villagers pull the box out once a year and go through the proceedings, observing what ceremonies and protocols they remember, they still obediently observe the lottery.
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