Stonington CT (part one)

Photographer Ted Hendrickson wrote a two part report:

Visit to Perry Preserve, Stonington, CT, Visit dates 3/7 and 3/10, Part One

This week we found an interesting site right in our own home town. Not that we have been traveling far, but I just had a feeling that with the amount of stone and local traditions around here, there had to be something close by. I was excited to find a updated map of a local land preserve that had "rock pile" markings dotted along the paths. Hmm.. someone is paying attention. The site is strung with walls, to me, they look like pens, lanes and field borders. Trying to be logical and open minded about features and not jump to any conclusions. Not far along, a large pile appeared along a wall intersection.
Trees like to prostrate themselves over these mounds, as you will see. The mound was supported in several sections by larger stones stacked into short walls.
Further along, more wall piles appeared, often at intersections of two or three walls, as in this example where they come from each side and perpendicular straight back.A small colonial foundation and two wells were marked on the map and were located. These, along with a cemetery with two headstones c.1810 and some small, simpler markers we associate with Quaker burials (numerous in this area) proved the colonial association with many of the features we were seeing. Descending into a slight hollow we found the large mound that was posted earlier. Here is another view from the north.Here are two more views, this one from the northwest:This didn't seem colonial as it was unconnected to walls and looked like features we had read about as Native American. It certainly would have done the job to clear the field of stones, however. Today I noticed that the wall sections don't quite meet, almost like a spiral shape, created that way? or collapsed?

And a view from the southeast:
Here the wall almost seems to do the same thing on the left of the photo, harder to see in this shot. Made me wonder a bit. The retaining wall visible in this shot seems straighter along the high section than the other sides.

Exploring along the adjacent rise to the north turned up some small piles and cairns, including this intriguing propped stone on top of a pile:

Closer:
This seemed significant. We continued our walk to find the other mound posted earlier. I will send a "Part Two" (click here) about that half of the trip.