Short Walks in Parker Woodland (part II - the south)

The "cairns" are clearly marked on various trail maps, so we followed directions and got to a site, perched on a completely rocky slope, far from any possible plowing or field. Trying to call these things farm-related seems the height of absurdity. Well you can believe the Native Americans left no traces or you can believe you lying eyes.

As we approached along the blue trail, I commented to my wife that we were coming up to a bit of a spring. And then there was first rock pile, followed by more and grander piles. They have obviously been rebuilt at least once, maybe several times.

Video:

https://youtu.be/aJ2bXoZCTQw

And:

Video:

I would guess these are marker piles, just like many of the ones in the north part of the park.

And now, before leaving this place and answering my wife's question ["why look at more?"] let me mention what seemed to be a crime. In one spot, there was collection of quartz chunks. Recall that quartz if not that common around here and that one of the rock piles had a chunk of quartz on top (see first video, above). 

You notice a plastic Tupperware container. This was an orienteering "letter box". I wonder if some orienteering fool, decided to collect all those nice pieces of quartz so as to make the letter box more visible and findable by the next orienteering participant. It is not often that vandals leave their identity there to be found. And, I think someone who cares about Parker Woodland, should think about locating the organization responsible for this. I would think it gives orienteering a big black eye.

Back to my wife's original question: Why look at more of these? 

I could not pretend the answer involves seeing new things because they were not really new. Another answer might be: because it is interesting studying regional variations. But that is not really true either because they are pretty much the same as what I find elsewhere. For example triangular marker piles, from Fitchburg and other places. Or tall piles with a blaze of quartz [now mostly destroyed at Parker Woodland]. Being told about a site is far less interesting than discovering it yourself. What is definitely a true answer is that I remain curious about why are sites located exactly were they are.

In the case of southern Parker Woodland, the answer is obvious if you look at a map, or go their in person: it is a flat bench between springs, facing south; easily accessible from a brook below.

As for the sites at the northern end of the park, they were clustered around the house foundations and all were on high points amidst the surrounding woods. Their calendrical appearance suggests each household had its own needs. But that is surely an oversimplification. In any case, the question of location remains interesting - even after becoming jaded to the appearance of the particular sites.

My wife also wanted to know what we were "seeing". She wanted an overview. My explanation was that it is obvious not only that Indians lived here for a long time and that they seemed to still be around - judging from the careful reconstructions. If you look at these piles, you see many with the upper rocks having no lichen.