"America's Stonehenge" is thought to be the oldest man-made construction in the United States. It is theorized to be over 4000 years old. It is another archaeological controversy in New England. Who built it? It may have been ancient Native Americans or very early European (Celtic?) explorers? Once again, one knows for sure.
Inscriptions, possibly Ogham, Phoenician or Iberian Punic Script, have been found at the site and further complicate the mystery. In fact, the name of the site was once Mystery Hill. Dr. Barry Fell of Harvard University worked with the inscriptions found at the site. This work is detailed in his book: America B.C. America's Stonehenge.
Although the area was renamed in 1982 after Stonehenge in England, there are no connections between the two sites except that the American site is thought to also be an ancient astronomical calendar of sorts. The site was used to determine specific solar and lunar events every year.
William Goodwin purchased the land in 1937. Goodwin was certain that the area then known as Mystery Hill was proof that Irish Culdee monks had been to America and lived there before Columbus. He pushed to publicize his ideas and is reported as going as far as moving some of the stones from their former positions to help better support his idea.
The "America's Stonehenge" site was featured on an episode of "Secrets of the Ancient World." Boston University archaeology professor Curtis Runnels offered his evidence to disprove the idea that the site was built by ancient Celts. This show aired on the American History Channel on January 14, 2002.
Whether you believe it was built by Native Americans, ancient Celts or Pleidians, it is definitely a wondrous site. "America's Stonehenge" is a maze of chambers, walls, ceremonial-looking meeting places, large rocks and stone structures on approximately 30 acres in Salem, New Hampshire. It is privately owned and open to the public for a fee. Adult entrance fee is $10.00; Senior (65+) entrance fee is $9.00; Children's 6-12 entrance fee is $7.00; and Children 5 and under enter for free
A coupon is available on the web for a reduced entrance fee. It is a tourist attraction which also is home to an alpaca farm. It is a magnet for Pagans, Wiccans and other followers of Earth-centered spirituality.
One theory of its confused origins can be seen on the so-called "sacrificial stone" seen here to the right. The grooves that some say channeled blood closely resemble "lye-leaching stones" found on old
farms that were used to extract lye from wood ashes, the first step in the manufacture of soap.
Other researchers give charcoal pit carbon dating revealing dates ranging from 2000 BC to 173 BC. Early Native American use at this time falls into either the Late Archaic or the Early Woodland time periods of indigenous use.
"In 1982, David Stewart-Smith, director of restoration at Mystery Hill, conducted an excavation of a megalith found in situ in a stone quarry to the north of the main site. His research team, under the supervision of the New Hampshire state archaeologist, excavated the quarry site, discovering hundreds of chips and flakes from the stone. Both the state archaeologist and Dr. Stewart-Smith concurred that this was evidence of indigenous tool manufacture, consistent with Native American lithic techniques, although no date could be ascertained."
So, we continue to be perplexed. It is definitely worth a trip to see for yourself. America's Stonehenge is a professionally run tourist site with a gift shop, maps and all the trappings of a New England tourist attraction. More information is available at America's Stonehenge's website: http://www.stonehengeusa.com/VisitUs07.htm .
Comments
The mother goddess... obviously someone made an offering. Iwonder how obvious the actual stonework unadorned is. Looks very much along the lines of the Venus of Willendorf, or other European works.
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