So Many Rocks - Part 2

In my last post, I described some of what I came across on a recent hike. Since then I have returned to the site and have also done some extensive research. I have learned some pretty interesting things. If you haven't already, watch my video from the first exploration here.

My second trip to this property took me to the second half of it. One thing that always interests me is how one piece of property can switch from one thing to another. Every piece of land has a story. You can usually tell the land's history pretty quickly. And one piece of property can switch from one use to another as soon as you cross over a wall, ridge, or stream. This was the case with this piece of land. 

In this post we'll talk about the property as a whole, what I have found reading local history and some of what I have either confirmed or suspect with what went on here. I won't get into detail on all of the items I think I found, that will come later. 

Now, again let me state a lot of this is conjecture, especially when it comes to the Native American piece. I am not an expert on archeology, geology, history, ecology, or any other science. I only go by what I find through sources on the internet. And we all know everything on the internet is true. Also, I still will not disclose the location of the area as I don't want anyone to disturb it in the case it is a real archeological treasure. 

Okay so this piece of property is probably 120 acres or more. Through some research I have learned that it may have been part of a Native American piece of land, given back to a local tribe after it was stolen by the colonial government. I have not been able to find a map of where this reservation was, but I believe it was on this property. There was also a farm on this property, I believe it was a dairy farm, for reasons I will discuss later. 

There are some stone walls, mostly single stone width I think may have been used as grazing fields. Most of these walls are quite run down leading me to believe the farm has not been a working farm for a long time. None of the land would I classify as having been improved enough to have been planted. It is not flat and smooth like one would normally find. There are also not a lot of built up walls or large piles of stones so I am thinking the land was not continuously plowed. There are numerous piles of smaller stones, baseball sized, scattered throughout the property. I am at a loss right now where they came from. 

There is one area that is covered with water that I believe is not natural, but rather a large beaver pond. There was probably a stream that went through the area and after the beavers built a rather large dam it flooded. This could have been a large pasture or crop field. Still, there are not a lot of stones in the walls.

On the north side of the property I located a house foundation and two barn foundations. One barn foundation appears to be older and larger, I'm guessing this was the first built. The second is about fifty feet in front to the first, almost right on the road. I think they may have been used at the same time. I think there may have a been a dairy farm here and they needed two barns. 

The back wall of the old barn

The front barn

The house was a short distance away, set upon a knoll and seems like it was good sized judging by the size of the foundation, although you can not always tell. Foundation sizes can be mis-leading. I am not sure if I found the well or the outhouse further up the hill.

The house foundation

A fancy outhouse or a well?

The "farm" takes up about one third of the property, the rest is definitely unimproved. There are large boulders, rocky outcrops, steep hills, and wetlands. This is where I believe the possible Native American site sare. Those will be discussed in the next post. 

The one other thing on this property is an old stone dam. It is made of granite blocks and at some time it was reinforced with concrete. I am unable to determine if there was any type of mill attached to this. I would think there must have been but unfortunately I am not able to access the other side of the race, The accessible side is very marshy while the other side is high and dry. But I don't do fallen log river crossings and until I find a way to the other side I don't know if there are any foundations or remains. 

In my next post I will go into detail about the Native American Ceremonial Structures i found on the site. I have received confirmation that some of the photographs are very possibly Native American structures. It is almost impossible to say with 100% certainty unless much more extensive study is done.

Are you one short?