This was sent me by a friend Max Frey:
http://mooring-stone-theory.blogspot.com/
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This is about rock piles and stone mound sites in New England. A balance is needed between keeping them secret and making them public. Also arrowheads, stone tools and other surface archaeology.
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I've seen a number of drilled holes in Vermont boulders, but have never thought of them as "mooring stones," particularly when one of them is found on the side of a mountain in Pomfret, VT.
ReplyDeleteSome of the examples posted on the link could be a cupule variation.
I had a long discussion with Mrs. Rudebusch previously in regards to the triangular holes found South Dakota. I agree with her that majority of the South Dakota triangular holes are related to cultural practices of the Scandinavian people. However, I disagree with the dating of these holes to the 1400's or earlier. This part of the country was settled in the 1880's and 1890's by various Scadinavian immigrants. Arguably they brought with them cultural practices from the old country. There is a long standing tradition dating back to the 1100's and probably earlier of claiming or taking possession of property by holding a religious ritual. This ritual varies considerable, but, it includes erecting pillars, trees, etc on the property. Remnants of this tradition continue occasionally today. The holes would have served nicely for errecting some sort of post. Remains of iron pegs or poles have been found in several of holes which adds some creditability to the hypothesis.
ReplyDeleteThe triangular holes found in New England (VT, NH, MA) are for the most part related to 19th century quarrying and mining operations. the larger holes (over 1 inch) tend to be related to blasting, while the smaller holes were used either for anchor eye bolts for guy wires or in rare cases for splitting boulders with the plug and feather method. There are some triangulars holes along the harbors in New England which are arguable maritime related. They either held an eye-bolt or as a place for a mooring pin. New England has had a strong fishing industry for centuries, so, moorings for small fishing vessels is quite logical.
James Gage
www.StoneStructures.org