Follow up: American Indian Stonehenge

[Bodkin]

On Oct. 22, 2019 I posted these pictures of strange carved stones found on a small mound in the woods on a friend's property. He told me to "have at it" with the metal detector and I finally got back there to see what was dropped. Well, when I first saw these back in Oct. I thought I hit the jackpot. Nope!!! I started detecting right at the top in the middles of the stones and and did a very tight spiral outward. Nothing! And when I say nothing I mean nothing!!! I don't believe I ever found less in an area where you know there has been human activity. The only thing I found was some barbed wire fence which leads me to believe this was some type of watering trough for livestock or something. Strange that there would be a bunch of them on this mound where animals would have to climb up to get at it. Plus, there's a stream right next to these. Still can't figure these out for sure. If anyone has any better ideas I'd certainly like to hear them. Thank you for looking and any for thoughts.

 

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[civil_war22]

whatever they are I would say they have some value, as a lawn ornament etc. the only problem would be getting them out of there....

Well I know the old 2x2x6 blocks we used to make with old concrete it would take a big Kawasaki quarry loader to lift them by the rebar hooks we put in them. I imagine you’d need a fairly stout front end loader to haul them out on.

 

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[Professor of Engineering]

Interesting finds!

 

[Tom Slikes53]

I guess obviously your friend didn't know anything about them, how long has the land been in the family ?

 

[civil_war22]

I guess obviously your friend didn't know anything about them, how long has the land been in the family ?

That’s kind of what I was wondering this whole time. How long has the property been owned, and does any previous owners remember them there, or bring them there.

 

[tamrock]

It's clearly a site used by the lost tribe of Israel to sacrificed burnt offerings.

 

[civil_war22]

It's clearly a site used by the lost tribe of Israel to sacrificed burnt offerings.

It was this guys offering tables[emoji23]

 

[Bodkin]

Interesting. In what state is this located? Would it be too much trouble to get a leaf blower out there and clear it out for better photos? With a stream close by could it have been some sort of mill? What type of agriculture is the area known for?

These are located in Downeast Maine. The stream is very small, not big enough to turn a mill that's for sure. Most likely just a spring coming out of the rocks up the hill a bit. It empties into a lake about two hundred yards away. No agriculture to speak of anywhere around (at least of any scale). Haven't thought of a leaf blower. Not too sure the property owner would be up for that. Who knows, I'll ask Thanks for your interest and input.

 

[Bodkin]

Yes, what state are these in? The stone appears to be soapstone (steatite) which is very soft and easily carved. In the 19th century various enterprises out east engaged in the quarrying and carving of soapstone basins, sinks, troughs, stove walls, heating blocks etc. Looks like either a reject dump from such a business or maybe an unfinished project by someone making their own using a likely nearby outcrop. I bet ya a dollar that they are less than 300 years old and that Indians had nothing to do with them, but they are still very interesting. Did you try scratching or poking at them? All but the hardest steatite can be very easily scratched with one's fingernail.

Lots of folks asking lots of questions. I'll do the best I can. When I scooped the leaves out of the one it was about an 8 inch basin. The rock seemed very hard, like granite (I'm no rock expert though.) It didn't seem like I could scratch it although I didn't try. Maine is a funny state in that the frosts and winters move rocks! Even if these sat on this little mound in a nice orderly fashion at one time they will sink and get tossed around. When digging in the woods like this place there are crevices that get split wide open with the frosts and things just fall down in. I will check to see what the surrounding rock structure is. There are quarries in the area but none that I know of here. A few miles away. Thanks for your input, I appreciate it.

 

[Bodkin]

I’m thinking a wash area, with a creek nearby the cattle would have water, that rock wouldn’t hold enough grain for one animal let alone many. I think you’re on a Native American site. We’ve found holes ground in to stone from them washing, grinding grains, acorns, whatever they wanted to grind, and also they weren’t neandrothals, they were pretty smart as far as making tools, if the sun hits that one rock just right it may be a wash area that keeps the water warm. Like someone else said, I’d blow some leaves off, and maybe scratch around the dirt a bit to see if you found any flint, ash, or any signs of Native American culture. You’ll never know if it’s that old or something modern if you don’t try, and find out, and for Pete’s sake, don’t mention it to any Archy, they’ll have that whole place shut off, and down.

Kind of odd that the barbed wire is there, 20 yards away, and yet these things are so crude. Initially, I was thinking they were used to mash acorns, grains and such by earlier people. Not so sure now. But it does make sense that there wouldn't be much in the way of metal for my detector to hit on if that was true. I was so pumped by the idea of hitting some good targets that maybe I was looking for the wrong type. All is covered in snow and frozen in right now in those woods. I'll have to gear up for spring and do some "scratching" as you suggest. Thank you!

 

[Tom Slikes53]

Kind of odd that the barbed wire is there, 20 yards away, and yet these things are so crude. Initially, I was thinking they were used to mash acorns, grains and such by earlier people. Not so sure now. But it does make sense that there wouldn't be much in the way of metal for my detector to hit on if that was true. I was so pumped by the idea of hitting some good targets that maybe I was looking for the wrong type. All is covered in snow and frozen in right now in those woods. I'll have to gear up for spring and do some "scratching" as you suggest. Thank you!

I think you need to get some history of the place, current owners, past owners and adjacent land owners Shouldn't be too much trouble to take the history back 100 years at least. I wouldn't call the stones "crude" I think they are quite symmetrical, I really can't see native Americans churning them out in numbers but never say never....... The big stones there, that are covered with leaves and soil, are they shaped the same way ? Look closely for scratch marks from heavy machinery, especially on the bottom of one if one is laying on it's side, They might not look obvious if it was hauled there 50-75 years ago.
Still haven't heard from Scott, he's sometimes temperamental with me because he thinks I tried to hoax him.

 

[tinpan]

Hi , Remind me of stabilizing stone sole plates for a 4 post lifting A frame . TP

 

[RW]

I think you need to get some history of the place, current owners, past owners and adjacent land owners Shouldn't be too much trouble to take the history back 100 years at least. I wouldn't call the stones "crude" I think they are quite symmetrical, I really can't see native Americans churning them out in numbers but never say never....... The big stones there, that are covered with leaves and soil, are they shaped the same way ? Look closely for scratch marks from heavy machinery, especially on the bottom of one if one is laying on it's side, They might not look obvious if it was hauled there 50-75 years ago.
Still haven't heard from Scott, he's sometimes temperamental with me because he thinks I tried to hoax him.

I suppose getting hoaxed is part of the business, but curious which anomaly, legend, structure to which you refer? Hopefully Scott won't let the past interfere with taking a quick look at the OP's photos. I emailed him as well. With any luck he will take a gander and help shed some light. I can't see these stones as being NA either. I also can't imagine being the land owner and not trying to learn of the origin!

 

[Bodkin]

The landowner has really zero interest in these stones. Kinda funny to be like that, but oh well. He's letting me poke around but I haven't posed the question about leaf blowing or raking the area for more info. I'll cross that bridge in the spring time. He doesn't have any family interest or history here. He's from Boston and is just here because of work. He owns the property but I believe he acquired it just a few years back. Of course, I don't want to wear out my welcome either by pressing too hard. I'll gather the info as I come across it and post if anything changes. Thanks to all for looking, comments and ideas.

 

[Tom Slikes53]

I suppose getting hoaxed is part of the business, but curious which anomaly, legend, structure to which you refer? Hopefully Scott won't let the past interfere with taking a quick look at the OP's photos. I emailed him as well. With any luck he will take a gander and help shed some light. I can't see these stones as being NA either.

For better or worse, I was on the next to last show on the History 2 channel. It aired Jan. 24th 2015 (filmed Sept 18th 2013) If you ever get the chance to see it I'm the guy in the green shirt for the first 25 minutes of the show.

 

[Tom Slikes53]

I think maybe someone got a good deal on these from a demolition site of some kind possibly and just put them there for some future purpose, or got them just because for what ever reason people like to collect things. You could look up past land owners at the courthouse without bugging your friend again. I'll take a guess and bet rather then being way out in the middle of nowhere they are close to a trail, road,field ?

 

[civil_war22]

I think maybe someone got a good deal on these from a demolition site of some kind possibly and just put them there for some future purpose, or got them just because for what ever reason people like to collect things. You could look up past land owners at the courthouse without bugging your friend again. I'll take a guess and bet rather then being way out in the middle of nowhere they are close to a trail, road,field ?

I’m keeping my opinions to myself till we see what he finds out. I don’t want to speculate till we have more info.

 

[Tom Slikes53]

I’m keeping my opinions to myself till we see what he finds out. I don’t want to speculate till we have more info.

I don't know, reading between the lines in his posts it might be a long wait ;-)

 

[RustyRelics]

Aliens.

 

[Bodkin]

I think maybe someone got a good deal on these from a demolition site of some kind possibly and just put them there for some future purpose, or got them just because for what ever reason people like to collect things. You could look up past land owners at the courthouse without bugging your friend again. I'll take a guess and bet rather then being way out in the middle of nowhere they are close to a trail, road,field ?

Well, they are about 100 from a road and that road is about 100 yards to big lake. The road is a dead end probably another 100 yards up a ways. Very few houses along it and this road is in length about 1 mile long off a more major road for the area. You could probably go all day and see 2 cars travel this road. I've lived in Maine for almost 4 years now and am shocked at how remote and quiet things are. Anyway, the area these are in is very hilly and rocky as is most of this area. Can't really see how anyone could do any purposefully farming here. Maybe they were "dumped" there? Seems like quite a task to drag them to this spot though. I'm as interested as anyone here to find out what they are all about. This is pretty rough terrain here and that's what makes it so vexing. Why are these right where they are?

 

[Jeff H]

If you haven't already done so, I think the first thing is to determine for sure whether they are concrete or carved stone. Obviously if they are carved stone, it adds a bit more interest to the story.