Vote on preserving the Webster-Bulkeley CSL land on November 1 in Littleton

 A reminder from the Friends of the Nashoba.

Update: Sadly the town did not come up with the $

The Stones We Carry: Avocational Science, Epistemics, and Identity in New England’s Cultural Stone Features Debate

Kitty -O'Riordan from UConn, is defending her PhD Thesis on the debate about Ceremonial Stone Landscapes. It should be of great general interest. Please note the date and the Zoom link.

Doctoral Dissertation Oral Defense of Kitty O’Riordan

The Stones We Carry: Avocational Science, Epistemics, and Identity in 

New England’s Cultural Stone Features Debate 

Friday, November 10th, 2023

2-4 PM

McHugh Hall Room 301 or streamed online via Zoom:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89235321183

The debate over the purpose and provenance of particularly unusual and enigmatic built stone features, traditionally labeled as remnants of 18th and 19th century agricultural activity, has intensified in the decades since avocationalists and Indigenous groups identified them as Ceremonial Stone Landscapes (CSLs). While avocational archaeologists have been creating knowledge about these features in New England for more than a century, their methods, values, social organization, and motivations as a unique social world are severely understudied and often misrepresented. This dissertation applies insights from science and technology studies (STS) and the sociology of amateurism to address this gap and to identify the major stakeholders, themes, and issues within this debate. 

Using data from 16 in-depth interviews, an extensive survey of the professional and avocational literature, and participant observation at public talks, conferences, and research excursions, I investigate three interrelated categories: 1) the dynamics between professional and avocational researchers and the structure and character of the avocational community; 2) the methodological practices, epistemic challenges, and processes for evaluating knowledge that emerge from this area of study; and 3) the motivations, worldviews, and identities that inform avocational researchers’ dedication to what they understand as vital contours of a complex and shared heritage. This is considered alongside the history of this debate, relational and posthuman archaeologies, Indigenous and non-Native relations, and growing environmental anxieties. 

In contrast to portrayals of this community as homogenous, unscientific, and motivated exclusively by political goals, I argue that avocational researchers conduct meaningful work on the local level that unites a diverse group of stakeholders to achieve common goals. They cultivate broad networks through efficient communication and strong values; develop creative methodologies to overcome epistemic uncertainty; reflect deeply on their ethical and ideological motivations and relationships with others; and seek out collaborative opportunities to protect these landscapes and the alternative ways of being in the world they contain. A clearer understanding of the avocational community and this debate more broadly may facilitate more effective, community-based, democratic, and ontologically plural approaches to heritage preservation in an entangled and postcolonial New England. 

A pair of little quartz points from RI

Rhode Island Arrowheads - "Cumberland/Barnes phase"

Josh in Rhode Island sends this:

Over the last four years I have found some really rare and unique treasures at the beach including points from the cumberland/barnes phase and earlier (el joboid).  The site is on private property (where I have permission to be looking) with multiple occupations and also produces many side notched hardaway daltons.  I have found many artifacts made from shells as well including the photo I sent of a 1 inch paleo type point that slightly twists and has a notch on one side only.

[This is a quahog shell- a wampum arrowheaad]

Heard there were arrowheads at Waquoit

I can believe it. But I think the nice ones must be all gone.

This material is argillite.

Woodpecker Drummers?

 

https://www.scribd.com/read/230095531/Reading-Rock-Art-Interpreting-the-Indian-Rock-Paintings-of-the-Canadian-Shield

Decoding the Stones: Mike Luoma on New England's Hidden History

 

  “In this episode, Mike Luoma shares his journey of discovery, visiting possible sacred stone sites and trying to unravel their meanings and histories. Whether you've stumbled upon mysterious stonework yourself or are just curious about the hidden history of New England, this book and our conversation with Mike offer eye-opening insights…”

https://youtu.be/j6kiO_HopqQ?si=hMg653IVo2Q5SRyB

Excerpts from Our Hidden Landscapes (2023)

 

https://uapress.arizona.edu/book/our-hidden-landscapes

News from the Friends of the Nashoba Praying Indians

 Friends of the Nashobah Praying Indians: Bulkeley Farm Native structures update

 

Dear Friends of the Nashobah Praying Indians,

 

Friends of the Nashobah member Lyle Webster is offering 36 acres of his family land to Littleton for purchase as open space conservation land.  The acquisition will come up for vote on the 11-1-23 Littleton town meeting. 

 

The land is part of the Bulkeley Farm which was founded circa 1700 and is one of the oldest farms in Littleton.  And just as significantly the property has a number of stone structures that have been assessed as Native ceremonial stone constructions by myself, Strong Bear, and experts James & Mary Gage, and Kimberley Conners. 

 

A town purchase of the land for conservation use would among other things preserve these Native structures.  If you are a resident of Littleton, please support this acquisition with your vote at town meeting November 1^st. 

 

Lyle is giving tours of the property, including some of the structures.  These will be held on Saturdays and Sundays at 1:00 – 3:00pm, through October.  The tours are 45 minutes long. 

 

If you would like a tour of this promising conservation property, please contact Lyle at lylewebster@verizon.net.

 

I have walked the Bulkeley Farm many times with Lyle and it is always a pleasure.  I hope the town acquires it. 

 

Lyle – if there is anything I missed, or needs to be added to this email, please ‘reply all’ with your additions / corrections. 

 

On a historical note, during King Philip’s War in 1675-76, Concord was only lightly defended.  However, Metacomet’s warriors never attacked it.  It was learned afterwards that this was because Peter Bulkeley lived there, and Metacomet – who thought highly of Peter as a highly spiritual person – would not attack a town where Peter lived. 

 

Quick update – the next FoNPI event is a book signing at Orchard House, tentatively scheduled for November.  Updates to follow as details become available.

 

Best wishes,

 

Dan

Our Hidden Landscapes: Indigenous Stone Ceremonial Sites in Southern New England

 

Our Hidden Landscapes: Indigenous Stone Ceremonial Sites in Southern New England

by Dr. Lucianne Lavin

Thursday, October 26, 2023

Harwinton Town Hall

100 Bentley Dr.

Harwinton, CT

Doors open at 6:30 pm

Presentation begins at 7:00 pm

Pre registration requested at this link.

Directions at this link.

Sponsored by the Harwinton and Burlington Land Trusts

​“A hike in the woods often reveals a variety of built stone cultural features. Many of these are the remains of abandoned farmsteads and industrial mill sites. Others, however, represent Native American ceremonial sites. The idea of Native Americans designing stone structures that represent sacred landscapes is fairly new to some Northeastern researchers, as it was historically – and erroneously -- thought that local Indigenous peoples did not build in stone and all such structures were the result of European-American farming activities. Some of it is, but some of it is not. 

​This PowerPoint presentation (and the recently published book on which it is based) introduces people to Southern New England’s Indigenous Ceremonial Stone Landscapes (CSLs) – sacred spaces whose principal identifying characteristics are stacked stone structures that cluster within specific physical landscapes. They are often unrecognized as the significant cultural landscapes they are, in dire need of protection and preservation.

​State regulations (in Connecticut, at least) support preservation of sacred Native American sites (that is, those sites of ritual significance), and so it is important for members of land trusts and conservation organizations, as well as private property owners, to be able to recognize these sites within their properties and work to preserve them.”

A visit to the Aptuxet Trading Post - Bourne MA

A messy and poor display. Still....

First shelf:

2nd shelf, lots of shadowy points:

Such a hard to see collections, you might almost miss it:

I did not see it (the paleo blade in the above) until I got home and was looking at pictures.

I wish they would arrange these, straighten them out, light them properly, and provided some sign-age.

Slightly better:

Low tide along the Pocasset River this morning around noon. 

That museum could use a consultant.

Dates confirmed on White Sands Footprints

[Not rock pile related] This is new evidence that confirms humans in America before 20K years ago. Go early man!

Scientists say they’ve confirmed evidence that humans arrived in the Americas far earlier than previously thought | CNN

Rock Pile Cave (CT)

 

“Then came the marvelous rock pile caves. As we don’t have many real caves here in Connecticut, most of them are large rock formations overhanging, though some have a few smaller spaces connected. Since I didn’t get to see the cave two sections back, this would suffice. We had fun exploring and taking pictures. Someone had made a little wall of rocks along the edge, and built a fire ring. This spot would definitely protect you from bad weather in a pinch and I said to the group that I was sure that native Americans met or lived here like the nearby caves. Or at least sought shelter. I wouldn’t be surprised if this wasn’t one of the legendary leatherman’s spots on his route. I’ll have to look that up…”

https://happyonthetrails.wordpress.com/tag/rock-pile-cave/

Labelled as "The Rock Pile Cave" here:

http://boxingthenet.blogspot.com/2014/06/trails-end-middletown.html

Which also mentions a "found" piece of quahog shell:

“Laying on the trail maybe ten or twenty feet from the old well was an old piece of wampum shell, perfectly round and obviously formed by humans. I don't know what to make of it. Wampum has been used in jewelry for hundreds of years, and continues to be used to this day. It was also used as an alternate form of currency by colonists for a time, but since anyone could just make their own wampum beads from shells (often poorly), they lost their value. Normally there would be a hole drilled in the enter of a wampum bead so it could be strung up. So what is this? Did it just fall off some hiker's jewelry a few years ago? Or is it a relic? The location along the banks of the Connecticut River adjacent to a hand-dug well gives me pause. Any thoughts? There were no other shells around, just this one on the trail. It's quite eroded, but was most definitely a round disc, about 3/4" diameter…”

(Apparently, I had seen something about Rock Pile Cave before:)

http://rockpiles.blogspot.com/2013/10/boulders-and-ledge-at-rock-pile-cave.html