NEARA Field Trip to Boxborough, MA, Sunday June 24, 2007

On Sunday, June 24, 2007 NEARA member, George Krusen will lead a field trip in Boxborough, MA through an area that was part of the Nashoba Praying Village.

Meet at 3:00 P.M. in Boxborough at the intersections of Littleton Road, Depot Road, and Littlefield Road. To find this intersection take Exit 29 off I-495 and go East on Route 2 (towards Acton) to Exit 41. Go South on Central Street, toward West Acton, and turn right on the first road, which is Littlefield Road. Then go about a mile and turn right onto Littleton Road. Park your car by # 30 Littleton Road.

George Krusen will show us three sites. First, he will show the sunrise alignments on the Sudbury Valley Trustees Land. Second, he will show us a chamber. The axis line of this chamber suggests a possible connection to Hassamessitt, in Grafton, and even to Orient Point, Long Island, NY.

Then we will follow George in our cars to go to the Boxborough Esker. We will walk a mile on the esker to where we can picnic and about 7:00 P.M. observe the summer solstice sunset (or its location if it is overcast). We will leave the esker by 8:00 P.M., near the intersection of Route 495 and Route 111.

The Boxborough Esker is a two and ½ mile long ridge about 56 feet tall that runs between two swamps. There are stone rows, stone mounds, and pits, on and near the esker. Near the end of the esker two earthen ramps, which begin some feet apart, lead diagonally down to the valley below, meeting near two U-shaped “prayer seats”.

See: MANITOU, by Mavor and Dix, Chapter 11, page 275.

Please where comfortable shoes, bring food and water, a flash light, and any bug spray you would like to use. As always, dress for the weather.

RSVP to brendatoomey@verizon.net . When emailing me please put NEARA in the subject line. Please do not just hit “Reply” and send my notice back to me, start a new email, or call me at 508-885-0993 and leave a message.

Brenda Toomey