Friday, May 21, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Field clearing and wall enclosed rock piles
Several weeks ago we had a brief discussion of rock piles that were enclosed in a retaining wall. For classic examples see here and here. I went back to take a look at the latter site and came away with the disappointing conclusion that this is, in fact, from field clearing. FFC and I agreed on that as we walked around the site. Believe me, I would much rather think these are ceremonial, I just cannot reconcile it with observations.
To be as clear as possible, I am not talking about piles with retaining walls but, more specifically, piles enclosed within a stone wall that does not retain the pile completely. In the examples above, note how the fill of the rock pile does not go all the way to the top of the wall that encloses the pile. I have been puzzling over that for a while - one reason to go back and have a look at that site in Carlisle. Also, I went back to look at Ted Hendrickson's pictures from CT that stimulated the discussion (see here) and I cannot make up my mind about those examples.
At any rate, here at the Carlisle site I came away convinced these were from field clearing for several rather basic reasons:
But the observation that the pile does not actually fill the enclosing wall is puzzling. And I was trying to come up with a scenario for it.
To be as clear as possible, I am not talking about piles with retaining walls but, more specifically, piles enclosed within a stone wall that does not retain the pile completely. In the examples above, note how the fill of the rock pile does not go all the way to the top of the wall that encloses the pile. I have been puzzling over that for a while - one reason to go back and have a look at that site in Carlisle. Also, I went back to look at Ted Hendrickson's pictures from CT that stimulated the discussion (see here) and I cannot make up my mind about those examples.
At any rate, here at the Carlisle site I came away convinced these were from field clearing for several rather basic reasons:
- The site is at the bottom of a slope that was cleared of rocks. Overall this part of Carlisle is very rocky, so clearing that slope was an immense effort and the debris from it must have ended up here in these walls and pile.
- There were many examples of smaller rocks dumped into piles separately from larger rocks, following the expectation that the fields were cleared in the order of: larger rocks first, then smaller ones
- One sees "angle of repose" at the center of the rock pile
- All of the stone walls here (at the north end of Two Rod Road coming up from Concord through Estabrook Woods) have occasional sections with an extra side wall and fill between the primary and side walls.
But the observation that the pile does not actually fill the enclosing wall is puzzling. And I was trying to come up with a scenario for it.The scenario:
A farmer starts clearing a field and dumps rocks into a pile. As the pile grows it starts to spill out sideways, leaving a mound towards the center which is at the "angle of repose" for dumped rocks. Later the pile grows more and the farmer, to prevent further sideways spill, puts a quick wall around the pile and continues filling it. [Jim P commented that these walls are made with care. I don't think so. We have on record that a hard days work for one man could produce something like a 1/4 mile of stone wall (this was in old records of work done on the island of Naushon - sorry no reference, and my recall may be faulty). So building a retaining wall should not be considered a particularly time consuming task.] Once the wall is in place, the farmer goes on filling the enclosure, sometimes up to the top of the wall and sometimes not.
Let's look at a particular example from this point of view:
This was on slightly higher ground but we noticed some rock outcrop or larger boulders underneath. So the thought is that this was wasted land anyway. You can see different sized rocks dumped in there. 
You can see spillage coming out the sides. You can see a plausible scenario for this being just what it should look like: a field clearing pile with a slight effort to keep it away from spilling into surrounding field.
As FFC and I left the area, going back north to where the car was parked at the Malcolm Meadow Conservation Land parking lot, we took another look at the walls along the sides of Two Rod Road. There was not question that they were in the exact same style as the rock piles. No reason at all to suppose an alternate history for the piles. Here is a last look at the largest pile, built into a stone wall:
This is a disappointment but probably worth trying to be straight about. I remain unsure about the examples from CT, and certainly not all piles with retaining walls need to be dismissed. But look at the combination of factors, including nearby fields, including whether the wall actually retains and is filled to the top, including whether the sizes of rocks are uniform or, if mixed, segregated into homogeneous sized rock sub-piles.
A farmer starts clearing a field and dumps rocks into a pile. As the pile grows it starts to spill out sideways, leaving a mound towards the center which is at the "angle of repose" for dumped rocks. Later the pile grows more and the farmer, to prevent further sideways spill, puts a quick wall around the pile and continues filling it. [Jim P commented that these walls are made with care. I don't think so. We have on record that a hard days work for one man could produce something like a 1/4 mile of stone wall (this was in old records of work done on the island of Naushon - sorry no reference, and my recall may be faulty). So building a retaining wall should not be considered a particularly time consuming task.] Once the wall is in place, the farmer goes on filling the enclosure, sometimes up to the top of the wall and sometimes not.
Let's look at a particular example from this point of view:
This was on slightly higher ground but we noticed some rock outcrop or larger boulders underneath. So the thought is that this was wasted land anyway. You can see different sized rocks dumped in there. 
You can see spillage coming out the sides. You can see a plausible scenario for this being just what it should look like: a field clearing pile with a slight effort to keep it away from spilling into surrounding field.As FFC and I left the area, going back north to where the car was parked at the Malcolm Meadow Conservation Land parking lot, we took another look at the walls along the sides of Two Rod Road. There was not question that they were in the exact same style as the rock piles. No reason at all to suppose an alternate history for the piles. Here is a last look at the largest pile, built into a stone wall:
This is a disappointment but probably worth trying to be straight about. I remain unsure about the examples from CT, and certainly not all piles with retaining walls need to be dismissed. But look at the combination of factors, including nearby fields, including whether the wall actually retains and is filled to the top, including whether the sizes of rocks are uniform or, if mixed, segregated into homogeneous sized rock sub-piles.Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Discovery channel episode on "America' Stonehenge"
James Gage writes:
In February, on a cold drizzily & snowy day, a camera crew from Discovery Channel interviewed Dennis Stone, Steve Brody, and myself at the America's Stonehenge site. This interview was for a show called "Weird or What." The episode containing the America's Stonehenge segment will air tonight Wednesday May 19 at 8pm EST and again at 11pm on the Discovery Channel. The show was described to us interviewees as a "myth busters" type format with a scientific flair but geared towards the entertainment market. I have no idea exactly how the show's producers have opted to treat the subject matter. The episode description reads "Human sacrifice in New Hampshire?" which is obviously playing to the entertainment aspect. This could prove to be interesting segment if the producers were serious about the "scientific" aspect …
In February, on a cold drizzily & snowy day, a camera crew from Discovery Channel interviewed Dennis Stone, Steve Brody, and myself at the America's Stonehenge site. This interview was for a show called "Weird or What." The episode containing the America's Stonehenge segment will air tonight Wednesday May 19 at 8pm EST and again at 11pm on the Discovery Channel. The show was described to us interviewees as a "myth busters" type format with a scientific flair but geared towards the entertainment market. I have no idea exactly how the show's producers have opted to treat the subject matter. The episode description reads "Human sacrifice in New Hampshire?" which is obviously playing to the entertainment aspect. This could prove to be interesting segment if the producers were serious about the "scientific" aspect …
Rock pile in wall corner but with hollows
Here is where the trouble begins:
It is reasonably common to see a stone wall corner, closed off and filled with a triangular pile of rocks. I have always liked these but continue to suspect they are the work of tidy field clearing activities. But usually when I see one (like here or here) they are filled up. So what is with the hollows in this one (where FFC is pointing)? Either an internal chamber fell in, someone made the hole afterwards, or the process of filling in the triangle from discarded field stone was not completed. I am going to go with the latter because this whole area of Carlisle is packed with stone walls that have been added to in this way: an extra retaining wall, fill, loads of stone filling the space.
One very typical feature of field clearing is that all sizes of rock get cleared but they tend to be sorted by size in the process. In other words, first they clear the biggest rocks and dump them. Then they clear smaller and smaller rocks and dump them, leading to separate cluster/pile/groups of stones with somewhat homogenous rock sizes. So you see sub-piles of bigger rocks next to or underneath sub-piles of smaller ones. That is about the most distinct characteristic of field clearing. Another very important characteristic is a nearby field that is relatively free of rocks. Another characteristic is a general messiness to the pile construction. But I am starting to think the messiness is not guaranteed. I am going to make the case that one, pretty standard, technique was to create a stone wall enclosure and dump rocks into it. Or maybe the enclosing wall was added later. That is consistent with the wall corner pile above. Hope I am not wrong but here goes with classifying characteristics for field clearing piles:
So, to illustrate, here is a massive stone wall that likely was made from field clearing:
Note the smaller sized fill and the nature of the outer walls. My eyes need to become accustomed to and recognize this.
It is reasonably common to see a stone wall corner, closed off and filled with a triangular pile of rocks. I have always liked these but continue to suspect they are the work of tidy field clearing activities. But usually when I see one (like here or here) they are filled up. So what is with the hollows in this one (where FFC is pointing)? Either an internal chamber fell in, someone made the hole afterwards, or the process of filling in the triangle from discarded field stone was not completed. I am going to go with the latter because this whole area of Carlisle is packed with stone walls that have been added to in this way: an extra retaining wall, fill, loads of stone filling the space.One very typical feature of field clearing is that all sizes of rock get cleared but they tend to be sorted by size in the process. In other words, first they clear the biggest rocks and dump them. Then they clear smaller and smaller rocks and dump them, leading to separate cluster/pile/groups of stones with somewhat homogenous rock sizes. So you see sub-piles of bigger rocks next to or underneath sub-piles of smaller ones. That is about the most distinct characteristic of field clearing. Another very important characteristic is a nearby field that is relatively free of rocks. Another characteristic is a general messiness to the pile construction. But I am starting to think the messiness is not guaranteed. I am going to make the case that one, pretty standard, technique was to create a stone wall enclosure and dump rocks into it. Or maybe the enclosing wall was added later. That is consistent with the wall corner pile above. Hope I am not wrong but here goes with classifying characteristics for field clearing piles:
- Piles of small rocks next to piles of big rocks
- next to a cleared field
- messy (often at the angle of repose)
- occasionally enclosed with a more tidy wall.
So, to illustrate, here is a massive stone wall that likely was made from field clearing:
Note the smaller sized fill and the nature of the outer walls. My eyes need to become accustomed to and recognize this.
A little enclosure hint, in a stone wall
Out with FFC walking at Malcolm Meadow Brook Conservation Land in Carlisle MA, you would expect him to notice something like this:
Was there a tree growing there?
Was there a tree growing there?
Curious structure in Carlisle Wetland
Here is something curious FFC noticed while we crossed a wetland. Some deliberately placed and propped rocks:
Between left and right sections was a vein of quartz:
Looks like Indian metaphysics.
Between left and right sections was a vein of quartz:
Looks like Indian metaphysics.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Flowers but no new rock piles
The main find for the weekend was a negative one: looking at some larger mounds and deciding that they probably were from field clearing. I'll explain later, but here are some nice flowers from the walk. Each week brings new ones.
What are these?
What about this one? Looks like a money plant:
Here are buttercup, closed dandelion, and (is it?) bluets:
Wild geraniums:
Bush honeysuckle:
And irises on the way home:
What are these?
What about this one? Looks like a money plant:
Here are buttercup, closed dandelion, and (is it?) bluets:
Wild geraniums:
Bush honeysuckle:
And irises on the way home:
Thursday, May 13, 2010
"Twins" rock pile at Hopkinton State Park
Another view, note the group of rocks below:
And a closeup, showing the two rocks which I believe are selected deliberately for their similar shape:
Small site by Prestwick Dr. Hopkinton MA
Wanted to get into the woods off Prestwick Dr. hoping to head south but my way was blocked by houses and I ended up exploring on the other side of the road in a small patch of woods.
Hopkinton is in the category of towns which "never disappoints" and, a few feet into the woods there was a fine example of a single layer of stones on a boulder:
Norman would want me to point out the possible standing stone at the near end of the boulder. There were a few other inconspicuous piles down to the edge of the wetland:
There must have been quite an Indian presence in this town, because virtually every patch of undisturbed woods has rock piles in it.
Then I went to explore a bit of the State Park north on Rt 85 and I cannot remember if this is from the later walk or the earlier one, a very nice split-wedged rock:
Closer:
Closer (note the drill holes):
Hopkinton is in the category of towns which "never disappoints" and, a few feet into the woods there was a fine example of a single layer of stones on a boulder:
Norman would want me to point out the possible standing stone at the near end of the boulder. There were a few other inconspicuous piles down to the edge of the wetland:
There must have been quite an Indian presence in this town, because virtually every patch of undisturbed woods has rock piles in it.Then I went to explore a bit of the State Park north on Rt 85 and I cannot remember if this is from the later walk or the earlier one, a very nice split-wedged rock:
Closer:
Closer (note the drill holes):
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Another mound but does it have hollows?
Things are shifting for me slightly. I am getting a bit tired of going out to find new sites and a more than a little ready to start seeing some actual progress in the subject of rock piles. Seeing and starting to understand hollows ("hollowology") and identifying a "Wachusett Tradition" was a big step for me and I have now gotten preoccupied with a basic question: is that all there is? Are all rock pile sites from that same culture? I seriously doubt it but it is time to start testing this more carefully. So I am revisiting sites with larger mounds in the hope of seeing if there are any that clearly are not the same sort of beast as the ones I have been seeing out in Leominster and Fitchburg. Last weekend was somewhat rainy so I concentrated on a place near home in Weston (off Ripley Lane, if you care to go look for it) where there is a wonderful site of small piles in and around several (3 or maybe 4) larger "platform" mounds like this one:
I could not see any distinct hollows in this pile, although there were certainly some candidates in the pattern of tumbled rocks forming its surface. To support the idea that this might be something different I note that this is in a shallow valley with a near horizon, and that there are rock piles on the horizon in every direction as seen from the central (largest) mound:
Although you can barely make it out, look at the horizon in the upper left of the picture. This is quite different from the open outlooks I have been recognizing at the Wachusett sites. I also note that this pile is more triangular than rectangular or oval. Certainly, it has nothing like a tail.
Perhaps these differences do amount to a distinction between this place and the ones further west (Leominster/Fitchburg). But I'll have to keep looking and try to find identify characteristics at this place (as opposed to the absence of characteristics) before I will think the case has been made.
Have a look at the original report on this Weston site and, more generally for sites in Weston: here [and make sure to note the "Older Posts" link at the bottom]. As I glance over those earlier reports the idea of triangular (or non-rectangular polygon) shaped piles seems to get a little traction.
I could not see any distinct hollows in this pile, although there were certainly some candidates in the pattern of tumbled rocks forming its surface. To support the idea that this might be something different I note that this is in a shallow valley with a near horizon, and that there are rock piles on the horizon in every direction as seen from the central (largest) mound:
Although you can barely make it out, look at the horizon in the upper left of the picture. This is quite different from the open outlooks I have been recognizing at the Wachusett sites. I also note that this pile is more triangular than rectangular or oval. Certainly, it has nothing like a tail.Perhaps these differences do amount to a distinction between this place and the ones further west (Leominster/Fitchburg). But I'll have to keep looking and try to find identify characteristics at this place (as opposed to the absence of characteristics) before I will think the case has been made.
Have a look at the original report on this Weston site and, more generally for sites in Weston: here [and make sure to note the "Older Posts" link at the bottom]. As I glance over those earlier reports the idea of triangular (or non-rectangular polygon) shaped piles seems to get a little traction.
Split Wedged Rocks - Weston MA
Often these are all there is to show for a place once having had Indians and ceremony:
Stone Mound with standing Manitou Stones - Rochester VT
Norman Muller writes:
About two weeks ago my wife and I made a quick trip to Rochester, VT, to photograph one of the stone features, and as we were leaving West Hill, I looked quickly to my left and spotted a stone mound just off the road. I pulled the car over, got out and walked to the mound. On one end there appeared to be a recumbent standing stone, and on the other was a manitou stone, one of many I've seen next to cairns or stone mounds in this area of Vermont.
About two weeks ago my wife and I made a quick trip to Rochester, VT, to photograph one of the stone features, and as we were leaving West Hill, I looked quickly to my left and spotted a stone mound just off the road. I pulled the car over, got out and walked to the mound. On one end there appeared to be a recumbent standing stone, and on the other was a manitou stone, one of many I've seen next to cairns or stone mounds in this area of Vermont.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Flowers and Orbs
Let's just agree that flowers are "rock pile related" since one sees them when out hunting rock piles. Here are some, new now as the spring advances - some fringed gay wings:
And the first lady slippers:
Jack in the pulpit:
A picture of lillies of the valley was too blurred to repeat.
It is very hard to take decent color photos in the rain, without a flash or a tripod. Occasionally I would hold still enough to get a decent picture. And with all the photos in the rain, some with the flash on by mistake, I can now be pretty clear, those "orbs" are drops of water on the lens, catching and reflecting some light from the flash:
And the first lady slippers:
Jack in the pulpit:
A picture of lillies of the valley was too blurred to repeat.It is very hard to take decent color photos in the rain, without a flash or a tripod. Occasionally I would hold still enough to get a decent picture. And with all the photos in the rain, some with the flash on by mistake, I can now be pretty clear, those "orbs" are drops of water on the lens, catching and reflecting some light from the flash:
Cold Spring creek branch - Arctic China State Forest, NY
by theseventhgeneration
Hiking along a logging road, then the Finger Lakes trail, I spotted a small rock pile embedded in a steep bank overlooking the creek. The top two rocks are a small rectangle set on a larger square, if viewed from above.
After following a few more (similarly embedded in the bank) rock piles, this one stood out for a perfect photo op:
Looking at that same pile, down from above it, I couldn't adjust the light properly because I'm working with two broken cameras, but this gives a good concept of the grade.
Just above this rock pile, along the ridge, there are several ground piles that are not so obvious. At first I thought maybe they marked the edge of a field. There were only a few. I followed a row a short distance into plantation pines, and they ended.
Keeping up with the creek, at a bend I found two vertical stones in an arrangement I've seen before (here and here). The half meter stick is in the photos.
Note the small triangular stone at the base in this photo:
The drop down to creek is in the background of this picture. I added a black line, so the triangular rock would be visible.
The creek is to my back here. The tip of the triangular rock is just barely visible at the top, in the center.
Just above a split in the creek, this was one of the last rock piles I found. It is just below a small, flat swampy area of the creek. This view is looking downstream.
Hiking along a logging road, then the Finger Lakes trail, I spotted a small rock pile embedded in a steep bank overlooking the creek. The top two rocks are a small rectangle set on a larger square, if viewed from above.
After following a few more (similarly embedded in the bank) rock piles, this one stood out for a perfect photo op:
Looking at that same pile, down from above it, I couldn't adjust the light properly because I'm working with two broken cameras, but this gives a good concept of the grade.
Just above this rock pile, along the ridge, there are several ground piles that are not so obvious. At first I thought maybe they marked the edge of a field. There were only a few. I followed a row a short distance into plantation pines, and they ended.Keeping up with the creek, at a bend I found two vertical stones in an arrangement I've seen before (here and here). The half meter stick is in the photos.
Note the small triangular stone at the base in this photo:
The drop down to creek is in the background of this picture. I added a black line, so the triangular rock would be visible.
The creek is to my back here. The tip of the triangular rock is just barely visible at the top, in the center.
Just above a split in the creek, this was one of the last rock piles I found. It is just below a small, flat swampy area of the creek. This view is looking downstream.
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