How about this light?
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Nice "Sprit Doors" from the Nagog Hill woods
FFC calls split-wedged rocks "Spirit Doors" and collectively we seem to have come to the conclusion that the wedge blocks the entrance to the underworld. All fantasy of course, but consistent with other fantasies. Here are a couple of nice examples:
How about this light?
How about this light?
David Whitley, in his discussion of Sally's Rockshelter in California, described the quartz stones jammed in cracks as donations to the spirit residing in the stone, and not as a blocking mechanism. But maybe if quartz is not used, it could be interpreted as a barrier or block. Take your pick.
ReplyDeleteNorman, ethnographic data from the Eastern Woodlands strongly suggest a similar purpose for such features. The propitiation to a spirit residing in an opening, hole, concavity, cleft, or split in stone or bedrock is very common. I've gathered such reports from Abenaki, Huron, Mohegan, Scaticook, Seneca, Shakori, Wampanoag, Siwanoy, and Narragansett ethnohistory. Furthermore, documentation concerning the use of a stone as an offering is even more common.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think quartz use as a wedge is so rare? I can only think of one example out of hundreds of split-wedged rocks.
ReplyDeleteGood question, but I don't have an answer, since quartz is readily available thoughout most of New England.
ReplyDelete