Rock Walls and Piles in deep woods of KY

[Charl]

This is a great read and overview, and while it deals with discovering that natives built in stone in eastern Pa., it’s food for thought to just realize the Eastern woodlands hide sites in plain site that are likely related in time/purpose, or, at the least, evidence that some remains long thought settler activity are older. Of course, the Pa. Oley Hills site is pretty dramatic compared to most potential CSL sites in the eastern US. All this is just to say, since all this is relatively new research, and new realization, no harm in simply keeping it in mind whenever roaming woods in eastern states….

Finding Meaning in Stone - Pennsylvania Historic Preservation

Exploring ceremonial stone landscapes, like the Oley Hills site in Berks County, as part of Pennsylvania's archaeological record.

pahistoricpreservation.com

 

[newnan man]

A lot of farms in Southern Ohio had rock piles but they were close enough to the fields that it was evident the farmers were stacking them as the plow was turning them up. I've never seen piles in the woods or on hilltops.

 

[Charl]

A lot of farms in Southern Ohio had rock piles but they were close enough to the fields that it was evident the farmers were stacking them as the plow was turning them up. I've never seen piles in the woods or on hilltops.

You might enjoy this read….

https://ohioarchaeology.org/file_download/inline/36be5e2f-825c-46ed-bfe9-5c9c70199c84

 

[Charl]

The more one looks, the more obvious it is that there are many sites in the eastern US that prove Eastern tribes/culture groups did build in stone….

The Prehistoric Makanda Stone Fort, Jackson County, Illinois.

The Prehistoric Makanda Stone Fort, Jackson County, Illinois.

drloihjournal.blogspot.com

 

[newnan man]

You might enjoy this read….

https://ohioarchaeology.org/file_download/inline/36be5e2f-825c-46ed-bfe9-5c9c70199c84

That took awhile to assimilate. Lot's of info and not particularly conclusive. Interesting, thanks.

 

[mayberry90]

I understand what you're saying about hand-stacked stone, and I'm not talking about that.

In at least one of your pictures the rocks seemed to be centered around the base of a tree. What I was saying was that here in New Jersey I see this phenomenon all the time, and it's caused by the tree pushing up over the decades (sometimes centuries) through very rocky ground. In your area this may not (or it might) contribute to some of what you're seeing - it's just a possibility to consider.
Here are a couple of pictures from my side yard. They are not the greatest examples - there are more significant ones with more/larger rocks in other locations - but I ran outside to take these pictures very quickly.
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If you're referring to the first picture in my 2nd post with pictures: (https://www.treasurenet.com/threads...n-deep-woods-of-ky.667860/page-2#post-6996189) if you read the post I am saying that this is clearly formed by field clearing. It's located down the hill and out by a pasture. The rocks are strewn to the side and are not piled up very high at all. I was contrasting this with the rock piles in question in my main post.

 

[mayberry90]

A lot of farms in Southern Ohio had rock piles but they were close enough to the fields that it was evident the farmers were stacking them as the plow was turning them up. I've never seen piles in the woods or on hilltops.

Neither have I. I recently bought a metal detector and plan to make it back out there soon to take some more pics of the rocks and see if I can find anything at the base of the wall. (Nails, coins, etc)

 

[brianc053]

If you're referring to the first picture in my 2nd post with pictures: (https://www.treasurenet.com/threads...n-deep-woods-of-ky.667860/page-2#post-6996189) if you read the post I am saying that this is clearly formed by field clearing. It's located down the hill and out by a pasture. The rocks are strewn to the side and are not piled up very high at all. I was contrasting this with the rock piles in question in my main post.

Ok Mayberry, whatever. I was just trying to offer something else to consider. Seems like you’ve got some specific ideas here. Good luck as you investigate your situation.

 

[mayberry90]

Ok Mayberry, whatever. I was just trying to offer something else to consider. Seems like you’ve got some specific ideas here. Good luck as you investigate your situation.

I didn't mean to come across as rude or short, just explaining that that picture was from a different area and was meant to contrast obvious field clearing with the rock piles of the site.

I actually do not have any idea, but I do wish to be realistic. Over a dozen 4-6 foot high rock piles, many of which have stones it would take 3 grown men to carry at the very top, would not form naturally and of course the rock walls are also odd. I will be metal detecting soon to search for iron nails or coins along the base.

 

[mayberry90]

I finally got out and did some metal detecting! I couldn't find much but I did find this solid piece of (iron?) inside the rock wall! Any guesses what it was? It is very thick and I'm assuming quite old. They don't make metal like this these days. I think this settles the question of who built it!

I also just found the rock structure posted here. It's the biggest structure I've found at this site, I'm wondering if it was the home area. I will try detecting there next.

 

[newnan man]

Those look like some sort of foundation stones.

 

[Blackfoot58]

Those look like some sort of foundation stones.

The 2nd pic looks like a rock pile used to keep animals out of a grave, as in many a western movie. I don’t seriously think it is though.