Thursday, May 04, 2017

Circular Platform - Grassy Pond Westford

Interesting structure in the middle of a pond, at low water. Via reader Cori R.
https://vimeo.com/215275904

Photos by Cori Ryan:

Also, see this link http://billandcori.com/massachusetts/rock_circle.htm and the comments about Women's Womb Circle from Wampanoag's.

16 comments :

pwax said...

In the overhead video I see lots of rocks in the "random scatter" around the platform that are almost in a straight line. Makes me remember an Indian talking about a site where every single rock played a role. In this case I imagine the rocks being moved slightly - but the alignments are still visible - if you let your eyes do the work.

pwax said...

On a separate note, does anyone else find the flute music distracting?

The loss of identity suffered by New England's earlier people seems to be the saddest thing - only to be emphasized here by a sound track from another culture.

Norman said...

Reminds me of a petroform Larry Harrop photographed in a dry vernal pool in RI

Norman said...

Since drones are all the rage, I would try to get a good overhead view of the petroform using one.

pwax said...

Click on the link.

Norman said...

I did click on the last link but didn't see any real overhead view, meaning straight up.

Tim MacSweeney said...

Women's Womb Circle: "In ceremony, the women are the ones that bring water and it is their responsibility. Especially as women, we bring forth life, but we are all water, that is all in the placenta..." https://www.academia.edu/32708480/CLIMATE_CHANGE_IMPACTS_ON_ODAWA_CONTEMPORARY_USE_PLANTS_AND_CULTURE_AT_SLEEPING_BEAR_DUNES_NATIONAL_LAKESHORE

Norman said...

The link finally worked. Interesting video, but the sound is a bit loud and disconcerting. I'd like to see an aerial video of the site with the water gone.

Norman said...

Is there an example, in stone, of a Women's Womb Circle? I've never heard of such a thing, and a good friend, a rock art expert, hasn't either.

pwax said...

I am also wondering about the level of knowledge of the Wampanoags who commented on the site. There are no women elders in the group photo.

Bruce said...

This is a really cool and unique site. I can't think of any other sites I ever found like this, though I did find a couple of rock pile spots in these kinds of wet spots. The photography is great and who cares about the music. I'm hesitant to dismiss what indigenous people might have as an interpretation of this site because I'm certainly no authority on interpretation. Doesn't mean they are right but they might not be wrong either. I don't see any way to interpret this as related to field clearing or other similar types of practices. I'd love to see our MA state archaeologist have a fit trying to interpret this in a European context.

Bruce McAleer

pwax said...

Well said.

Bruce said...

Thanks Peter. I do check in on your site from time to time as I miss rock pile hunting because there is no controversy surrounding "megalithic sites" here where I live and there's nothing left to discover. Thought I don't comment much I couldn't resist this particular site because it is so unique and unlike anything I ever discovered and I think you probably agree that it's unlike anything you've ever found either. The word "petroform" comes to mind when I see these photos and the setting is so unlike anything I've ever come across in the northeast. I hope you can go out and maybe see this for yourself in person some time. I might be back in MA in November and if I come back I'd love to meet up with you and Jic and maybe we'll go out and have a look at this place. Anyway, keep up the good work and if I can contact Doug Harris or Cheryl Andrews-Maltais I'll see if I can bring this site to their attention.

Bruce McAleer

Tim MacSweeney said...

I recognize Daryl Black Eagle in the photo
http://pocassetwampanoagtribe.webs.com/

Tim MacSweeney said...

Women's MOON Circle

David Brody said...

Correct, no women elders were at the site that day. But women elders were later consulted.