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Gungywamp Decoded |
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I. Introduction The Gungywamp site is located in Groton, Connecticut. It has two separate areas called the South and North Complexes. Each complex has a high cliff, a swamp and brook in conjunction with man-made stone structures and features. Archaeological excavations at the site have confirmed the presence of Native Americans at the site over the past 4,000 years, and the settlement of the area by white farmers after 1780. With the exception of the house foundations and farm roads, the archaeological evidence indicates that many of the other stone structures and features were built prior to 1600 A.D. This paper will present the theory that both the South and North Complexes were built by Native Americans for the purpose of conducting Moon and Sun ceremonies. It will analyze the site from a Native American cultural perspective. II. Worlds Circa 3500 to 4000 years ago Native Americans viewed their environment as having two worlds. The Upperworld extended from the earth’s surface up into the sky. The Underworld extended from the earth’s surface into the underground. The Underworld was exposed above the earth’s surface at places like cliffs. Caves within a cliff face allowed people to enter the Underworld. Circa 1370 A.D. during the Late Woodland period the concept of Middleworld is added. III. Spirits Spirits associated with the Sun and Moon ceremonies come in two forms: main spirits and assisting spirits. There are two main spirits Sun and Moon. There are seven assisting spirits Flowing Water, Still Water, Underworld, Bird, Fire, Stone and the Elders. A main spirit is assisted by an assisting spirit at all times. The assisting spirit is there to either carry an offering to a spirit to assist in calling it forth or to guide a spirit in its travels. This creates a situation whereby there are always two spirits. Assisting spirits are changed periodically reflecting the changes that took place causing the Moon Ceremony to be reconfigured or in case of Sun Ceremony a new ceremony being created. Main Spirits: Sun Spirit is associated with the sun and spends part of year in Upperworld and part of year in Underworld. Assisting spirits assist the Sun Spirit in making the transition from world to world. Moon Spirit is associated with the moon and spends part of year in Upperworld and part of year in Underworld. Assisting spirits assist the Moon Spirit in making the transition from world to world. Assisting Spirits: Flowing Water Spirit is associated with the brooks and flowing water. This spirit carried an offering and contained other spirits within ceremonial area. Still Water Spirit is associated with swamp water that is still as in a pond. This spirit guided Moon Spirit in the 1st generation (original) Moon Ceremony. It also, contained other spirits within ceremonial area. Underworld Spirit is associated with the Underworld that is underneath the earth’s surface. Returned the full moon and guided Sun Spirit. Bird Spirit is associated with the spirit of birds, a flying animal of the Upperworld. This spirit guided Moon Spirit in the 2nd generation Moon Ceremony. Fire Spirit is associated with fire and light. This spirit guided Moon Spirit and provided light in the 3rd generation Moon Ceremony. Stone Spirit is associated with stone cobbles used to create stone cairns. This spirit carried an offering and guided Sun Spirit. The Elder Spirits are associated with four On Ground cairns and a single On Boulder cairn with four stones. They represent the four groups of people who established the 2nd generation Moon Ceremony. This group of spirits guided Moon Spirit in the 3rd generation Moon Ceremony. IV. People’s Role People had the responsibility of assisting Moon and Sun Spirits. To do so, the people created appropriate ceremonies. They invited other spirits who were capable of safely guiding the two main spirits. They found ways to recreate natural features for the spirits to take part in the ceremonies. When necessary they introduced man-made features that were not recreations to assist them such as the cairn. Because the spirits could only cross over from one world to the other world on precise days of the year alignments were created. Moon Spirit and Sun Spirit became dependent upon people to make their yearly transition. The people’s role was to make sure each spirit got to its proper destination. V. Ceremonies The original ceremony was a main ceremony. Later a preparation ceremony was added. That created two types of ceremonies main and preparation. The preparation ceremony was a means to contact a spirit and prepare for the main ceremony. The main ceremony at Gungywamp site was a means to assist a spirit in transitioning from one world to another world. Two main ceremonies were created and held on site. One was the Return of Moon Spirit to Upperworld. Second was Sun Spirit Leaves Upperworld. Moon ceremony has three generations with a date range from circa 3500 B.P. to early 20th century. Sun ceremony dates from circa 1495 B.P. to 580 B.P. The moon ceremony celebrates Moon Spirit’s return to its own world. Sun ceremony acknowledges the reverse, Sun Spirit leaving its own world. There is a vast difference in time when the two ceremonies are established but the two were within the same complex. After the sun ceremony was added to the site, people gathered twice a year. Preparation ceremonies primarily dealt with the Underworld Spirit. Sun and Moon spirits each spent time in the Underworld therefore it was necessary to work with the Underworld Spirit prior to a spirit leaving or a spirit entering the Underworld. VI. Alignments Two natural alignments occur that can be observed within the ceremonial areas. One is a lunar event and other is a solar event. Equniox Sun An equinox sunset alignment was set up inside chamber #1. Winter Moon In early December each year the moon’s yearly movements place it at its northern most point in the northern hemisphere. That puts the moon in the northeast at moonrise. The northern most point coincides with a full moon rising on the horizon. A full moon reflects moon light on water when it is low in the sky. The reflected moon light is restricted to a narrow beam of light. At Gungywamp there is a large swamp on northeast end of the south complex. Swamps are sometimes created by large shallow ponds of water that overgrow with plants. Decay built up eventually creates a swamp. The swamp was probably a shallow body of open water 3500 to 4000 years ago when the site was first established. VII. Natural Features There are two complexes the south and north, each has similar features. There is a large swamp in the south and a small swamp in north. In south there is a high cliff with a brook at its base. In north there is a high cliff with a brook to its east. Each area has some low hilly terrain. The north has a large rock shelter that was used by Native Americans. Three different periods of period usage have been confirmed for the rock shelter: Late Archaic, Early Woodland and Late Woodland. The cliff faces represent raised earth exposing the underground. Swamp is a body of still water. Brook is a body of flowing water. In the south complex the large swamp is on east side and ranges to north end of complex. In early December each year a full moon rises at the horizon level. As it rises a light beam is reflected on the water. The moon is at its northern most point in the northern hemisphere. The event takes place each year. VIII. Man-Made Features Man-made features were constructed to have a means to communicate with and assist the spirits. In some cases, the feature is a recreation of a real feature. In other cases, the feature is a creation of the people used to form a link to Upperworld or Underworld or both worlds at the same time. Links to one world or the other was for the purpose of communication with a spirit(s). Chambers Chambers are stone structures built entirely out of stone. They have stone walls and stone slabs for the roof. Each chamber has an ex-large boulder built into one of its walls. Boulder is always on the right side of entry. Three of the four chambers have bedrock floors. All four were buried under an earthen overburden. That placed each structure underground. Enclosures Enclosures are low-walled structures without a roof above the ground. There are three on site. Each structure was built up against a short ledge. At least one of the enclosures has a bedrock floor. Stone Rows Two rows with standing stones are on site. The stones were placed perpendicular to the length of row and stones were spaced apart. They have short and tall stones. The stones are basically rectangular in shape, some have triangular tops. Stone Circle This is a one of a kind feature. The structure was created by shaping stones to fit two sides of a channel. Each stone was shaped by heating with fire and hammering with stone hammers to shape the stone. They were placed to form a double circle with a channel lined with flat stones. Middle of inner circle was filled with earth. Cairns There are several types of cairns on site. (1) On Boulder cairn with stone on top of bedrock or a boulder. (2) On Boulder Trailing to Ground cairn has large stones surrounding smaller stones on top with one side that has stone trailing to ground. This is a distinct style found throughout New England. (3) On Ground cairns with stone placed in a neat pile on the ground. Cairns are found in groups and as individuals. Small Offering Features There are three types. Two were used to make a water offering, a small groove and a small basin/drain. Small groove was placed at entry to two chambers. The third is a niche used to place an offering inside. Niche is an open-faced box within a wall in a chamber and used in conjunction with a spirit. Offering Materials Stone was used an offering. Water was used as an offering. An unknown perishable substance was used as an offering. Offerings of stone and water were made to call forth a spirit. Small water offering was made at an entrance to a structure or ceremonial area. Standing Stones (Sets of Three) Standing stones were used in sets of three. The shapes of two are known, one is square and the other is column-like with a conical top. Three sets are tall, one set is short. One set was used with a stone bar laid horizontal with stone placed on top. This called the Bridge and Standing Stone. One usage of standing stones was in conjunction with number three and triangles. Triangles Triangles were integrated into site in several ways. The three set of tall standing stones were all set up to form large triangles that enclose an area or features. These are called giant triangles. Another form was a triangular standing stone. In the row of stones some of stones have triangular tops. Triangles were features used to contain a spirit within a specific area or feature. Number 3 All four sets of standing stones have three to each set. Number 3 was used to form a triangle or represent a triangle. Spirit Portals These come in various forms. There are two light beams associated with the site, the moonrise and the equinox sunset inside chamber #1. Both are spirit portals. On Boulder Trailing to Ground cairn was a portal for a spirit to leave the Underworld and enter the Upperworld. Fissures in bedrock (size ranges greatly) is a spirit portal to exit the Underworld and enter the Upperworld.. One was made into a chamber, another was found underneath one of the bridge and standing stone features and another is in exposed low ledge. Cliff face with its raised underground face was another portal to the Underworld. It was used as an exit and entrance feature. Ex-large boulders used in chambers were sometimes utilized as portals to Underworld, this is inconsistent and where it was done was based on other factors to verify. Ledge and ex-large boulders inside chambers and enclosures does denote the Underworld just not a portal at all times. Markers Markers were used to mark entrances or mark directional orientation. On Boulder cairns were the most common. An arrow was carved into the base stone of one On Boulder cairn. A specifically placed cairn or standing stone was another form of directional orientation marker. Quartz Quartz was special stone quarried on site. It was used to create a solid quartz stone slab to close a chamber. Many of the cairns have pieces of quartz placed on top. The quartz quarry is at north end of south complex. Quartz was used to block or contain a spirit within a feature or structure. Fire Hearths have been found at the rock shelter, lodge, one enclosure, and near the stone circle. Some have ceremonial usage. Fire light from one fire was used to replace the moonrise light beam in the Late Woodland period. Fire was also used to call forth Fire Spirit. Lodge The remains of a lodge built out of tree saplings was discovered. It had an earthen berm with the fire-hardened ends of trees still in the ground. Lodge replaced chamber in Late Woodland period. IX. Cultural Ideas Balance Balance equals two parts. Those two parts were composed of the same two, two opposites and two different features. Each type of two parts was used separately and in conjunction with each other. Same represents two parts that are alike such as two chambers or two cairns. Opposite represents two parts that are the reverse of each other such as Underworld and Upperworld. Different represents two different features that compose the two parts. An example is an enclosure and a chamber that compose the two parts of a preparation ceremony. Each of these categories was used separately at times, and at other times was integrated and used in conjunction with each other. The most common usage was of same and opposites used together. The overall moon ceremony is composed of two parts, a main and a preparation ceremony. Two ceremonies represent two of the same type of basic function. At same time, one is a main ceremony and other is a preparation ceremony which represents two opposites. The two parts embody the same and opposites at the same time. Balance comes in creative and mixed forms. Finding the common factor is the key to decoding. Two parts are always at the core. Opposites Upperworld Underworld Same Two Spirits Different Enclosure Chamber Static – Progressive (Continuity & Change) Static – progressive is a term used to express how the Native Americans kept a ceremony the same and at same time changed that same ceremony. Static refers to retaining basic ideas. Progressive refers to moving forward by expanding upon the basic ideas. Original moon ceremony created a standard set of basic ideas. The standard was a two part ceremony composed of preparation and main event. Original moon ceremony incorporated two parts into a single main ceremony with two transition features. The first transition feature was the preparation part. The second transition feature was the main event part. In the second generation moon ceremony a full-fledge preparation ceremony is added while the first transition type feature is maintained but in a different form to accommodate changes that were made. This retention kept the original transition feature albeit in a changed form and expanded upon the preparation idea by adding a new ceremony. The basic moon ceremony technically remained static no new idea was added, yet at same it was progressive by adding a ceremony that expanded upon an old idea and in reconfiguring an old feature. This was routinely done over the years with each new ceremony or new generation of a ceremony. X. The Two Complexes |
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South Complex Map (Based upon survey by John Dodge & drawing by James Whittal II, with additional notations by Mary Gage) 1- Four cairns on ground |
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South Complex Up to now the south complex has been though to be a single unit. Several factors suggest south complex is two separate areas which were combined to form a single unit. These areas are (1) the east side with the two stone rows, and (2) southwest corner with double stone circle. Stone wall configurations show major differences and distinguish each area. In stone row area, there are three walled in areas lined up along swamp on a north – south orientation. Each walled in area has approximately the same size area enclosed. In the double stone circle area walled in areas are boxed-in in a way that forms a single large area with smaller irregular walled in areas. This section is very erratic in configuration of walled in areas. A swamp borders the whole east side and a high cliff with a brook at its base borders west side. This places water beside each of the two areas. The natural features form natural borders enclosing the south complex on its east and west sides. |
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Stone Row Area Stone row area consists of two rows of standing stones, two cairns on boulders, four on ground cairns, three walled-in areas, two stone chambers #3 and #4, and three standing stone and bridge cairn features. The area includes the whole east side and north end of the complex. It is bordered by a swamp. Two rows of standing stones with stones set in perpendicular to lenght dominate the area. North row is far more deteriorated than south row and is considered older of the two. Rows are level with swamp and located in the NE corner of complex. Surveys of each row suggest there are possibly 29 nine stones per row. In south row stones were placed in sockets. The rows are both oriented south-north and have slight curvature so they are not in a straight line. South row has short six inch high stones on each end with two to three foot high stones in middle of row. Some of these stones have triangular tops. A bird effigy is near middle of row on one of the taller stones. Bird faces north. East of the south row an excavation uncovered some features. East is the swamp side of the row. A layer of stone cobbles was found underneath the current path and flat paving stones were located between cobbles and standing stones. Underneath a flat stone was a post hole. Hole had been protected by a flat stone covering it so it was in excellent condition. The fact the hole was clean, open and covered suggests it was used for ceremonies. Ceremonial post hole was found lower down than stone cobbles but in direct association with row of stones. Extent of paving and number of post holes is unknown as only a short section was excavated. A polished “rubbing” stone was also found in area of cobble paving. Two cairns built on stone are near the north row. One is on a low flat boulder and other appears to be on exposed bedrock. The cairn on the boulder is an On Boulder Trailing to Ground cairn. The cairn on bedrock is completely on stone. Water washed cobbles were used for cairn stones, pitted on the top and smooth underneath suggests great age. On a slight knoll next to the swamp and east of stone rows are four cairns built on the ground. Cairns range in size from seven to nine feet in diameter to one foot high. A short distance north of rows is a tall standing stone with a horizontal stone bar with stone placed on top. Stone bar forms a bridge that was constructed by placing bar so it rested on two raised sections of bedrock creating an open space underneath, hence the “bridge” name given to the feature. Open spaces as in fissures within bedrock are considered spirit portals to the Underworld. Small open space underneath bridge cairn is between two raised sections of bedrock. Its close proximity to the stone row ceremonial area suggests open space was a spirit portal for a spirit to enter the ceremonial area. This combination feature is called the Bridge [Cairn] and Standing Stone. A photograph of a second bridge cairn and standing stone has the stone bar on the ground. No photograph was available on the third bridge cairn and standing stone. There are three bridge cairn and standing stone features all on the north end. One is on east side near the rows of standing stones. One is on west side and lines up with north end of double stone circle area. Another is in a wooded area north of the two that are on an east-west line. The configuration or layout of bridge cairn and standing stone features forms a triangle. The arrangement in which the features are spread out, enclose the whole north end of south complex. In middle of triangle is exposed bedrock ledge with a large vein of quartz. It is called the quartz mine and is where at least one large slab of quartz was quarried from. Cobble size pieces of quartz were found on several cairns. |
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There are three large walled-in areas on a north-south orientation bordering the swamp. On south end are two chambers #3 and #4. Chamber #3 is located outside on southwest corner of middle walled-in area. The chamber was built using a natural six foot wide fissure with naturally occurring side walls. It has an elongated rectangular interior shape. Chamber had a constricted NE entry on north end and a bedrock floor. Stone rubble and roof slabs were found inside so it is thought to have been roofed. Chamber #4 is located within southern most walled-in area. A large glacial erratic was used for its wall on right of opening. It has a semi-straight wall on boulder side and a semi-rounded out interior space created by stone walling. Entry is narrow and opens to southeast. Fallen roof slabs were found inside confirming this was a roofed chamber. Floor is bedrock, slopes and has a crack used as a drain underneath the boulder side wall. It’s inside height forces a person to bend to be inside. Two sets of ceremonial features For the moon ceremony to take place it was necessary to hold it at the north end beside the water (swamp). This created a situation where there was an overlap use of the same location for the set up of two generations of the moon ceremony. Each ceremony utilized different features within the same place. Original The original ceremony included the two on boulder cairns and north row of stones. 2nd Generation The second generation version abandoned the original’s features and set up new features. They are the south row of stones with bird effigy, the bridge cairn and standing stone, later two more of these features were added, and four on ground cairns. In this version, two stone chambers were added. The stone walls enclosing the three enclosed areas appear to go with this 2nd ceremony. What occurred was a restructuring of the ceremony, updated ideas that introduced revised versions of the old features, plus addition of two chambers. Discussion Each of the features has a purpose and place within the ceremony. Their organization and representation will be discussed. The features in original and 2nd generation are separated to be able to show the progression from original to 2nd generation. Original On the path are two cairns on stone. One is on low, exposed bedrock. The stone on this cairn is completely on the bedrock. Second cairn is on a short flat boulder with stone on top and trailing to ground, this is called an On Boulder Cairn Trailing to Ground. The cairn on boulder trailing to ground represents a link between Upperworld and Underworld. Stone base represents a connection with Upperworld and ground (earth) a connection with Underworld. The two cairns mark the entry for Moon Spirit to enter the ceremonial area. The cairn on bedrock was used to make a stone offering to Moon Spirit to invite the spirit forth from the Underworld. The stone offering is carried by Stone Spirit. The cairn on boulder trailing to ground was used by Moon Spirit to exit Underworld and enter Upperworld via the trailing stone. This cairn was a transition feature used by the spirit to move from one world to the other world. The two cairns, represent part one of the preparation. North Row of Stones is in badly eroded condition. Estimates place the number of stones at twenty nine. The moon has twenty nine days in its month. This feature is a recreation of a crescent moon (it is much better defined in 2nd generation). It was used by Moon Spirit as though it was the real feature during the ceremony. Row of stones, represents part two of the main event. In the original, part one has two parts the two on boulder cairns and part two has one part, the stone row. Original Moon Ceremony (Circa 3500 to 4000 B.P. Late Archaic Period) On the day the full moon rises at its northeastern most point directly on the horizon the ceremony took place. It was early in December there was water in the pond. People had gathered to assist Moon Spirit to leave Underworld and enter Upperworld. A shaman makes a stone offering by placing a stone on the ground level exposed bedrock. Stone Spirit carries the offering to Moon Spirit in Underworld. Shaman goes to On Boulder Trailing to Ground cairn to call forth Moon Spirit from the Underworld. Moon Spirit transitions from Underworld to Upperworld through the cairn that connects the ground with the (raised) boulder. Moon Spirit now has free-movement to travel over to the row of stones, the crescent moon. A ceremony is held at the crescent moon to release Moon Spirit to transition from the earthbound Upperworld moon, the row of stones to the real full moon. Shortly after moonrise when the full moon casts a beam of light across the water it is time for Moon Spirit to leave the crescent moon. Moon Spirit joins Still Water Spirit, the assisting spirit in the pond water (swamp). Still Water Spirit guides Moon Spirit across the water to the full moon. Moon Spirit rejoins the full moon and successfully enters Upperworld. In part one and part two there are two spirits. This maintains the two parts necessary to keep balance. At an unknown point in time the original ceremony was closed and a second generation version was created. Second generation has one major change, it introduces Bird Spirit. This suggests there may have been a severe drought that dried up the pond or that the climate had changed and become colder causing the water to freeze. Either situation would have caused a disruption between light beam and water with Still Water Spirit. It did not interrupt the light beam, just the substance it crossed, hence the change in assisting spirits. Discussion 2nd Generation The original had two on boulder type cairns, in 2nd generation there is a bridge cairn and standing stone feature and a set of four on ground cairns. These are two separate features that equate to the two on boulder cairns that represent two different parts of the preparation. (See Original) In the bridge cairn and standing stone feature the bridge becomes transition feature with a spirit portal from Underworld and standing stone a transition feature to Upperworld plus an entry marker for Moon Spirit to know where to enter the ceremonial area. The feature combines ideas of the original two cairns into a single feature with two parts, the cairn/portal and standing stone, and adds a directional marker. Bridge cairn’s portal replaced stone trailing to ground on On Boulder Trailing to Ground cairn. Standing stone replaced boulder used in On Boulder Trailing to Ground cairn and was used as a directional marker to point the way over to the ceremonial area. Stone on top of bridge replaces stone on top of bedrock cairn and represents the marker feature part marking where Moon Spirit needs to enter the site from the Underworld. Moon Spirit entered the main event area from the north.The offering feature part of the on bedrock cairn is replaced by the four On Ground cairns which make better contact with the Underworld. The stone offering went directly into Underworld to invite Moon Spirit to the ceremony. These four cairns represent the four groups who establish the second generation moon ceremony. The basic ideas remain the same but are reconfigured to meet the upgraded changes. The Bridge Cairn and Standing Stone feature have two parts to replace the two On Boulder Cairns in Original generation. At the same time the Bridge Cairn and Standing Stone feature is part one, the transition feature from Underworld to the ceremonial site that is paired with the group of four On Ground Cairns, the offering feature that represents part two. The two parts represent part one, the preparation. Part two was the main event its main feature was the south row of stones. Stones in south row start out short (6” high), are tall (2’-3’ high) in middle and end with more short stones, plus the row has a curvature. The row has approximately 29 stones. A crescent moon is curved with pointed ends, and is wide in the middle, this equates to short ends and high middle stones in the row of stones. This is a recreation of a crescent moon designed to invite Moon Spirit into the ceremony. A crescent moon is one stage within the continuous changing shape of moon during the course of a month. The spirit readily used the recreated moon as if it were the real moon. The second generation crescent moon had a spirit integrated into it. On one of the taller stones in the stone row is a bird effigy. Effigy represents Bird Spirit, an Upperworld spirit. Bird Spirit represents a spirit with free-movement that can intercede and carry Moon Spirit up to the full moon irregardless of whether or not there is water in the pond. Bird Spirit replaced Still Water Spirit as Moon Spirit’s guide in the second part of the transition. Row of stones represents one feature therefore one part. The preparation has two parts the main event needed two parts. On east side (water side) of row of stones there is a section that was paved. Paving was done in two parts: one was round cobble stones and second was flat paving stones. A post hole was also discovered. It was deeper in the ground than the paving and had been covered with a paving stone. The two features may have worked together or separately during two different periods. The paving and post hole create part two of the row of stones. Post hole denotes a post or staff was used in the ceremony. A staff likely had ornamentation on its top. The standing stone in the bridge cairn/standing stone feature provided a directional marker showing Moon Spirit which direction to travel in order to get to the row of stones. An ornamentation feature on staff with a half moon symbol would show Moon Spirit where it needed to travel to next. Half moon symbol represented the second stage of the real moon’s cycle on its way to becoming a full moon. Staff was placed on water side where the light beam was reflected on the water by the full moon. |
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In the original ceremony, the first transition was the preparation part. This established a preparation phase however the preparation was part of the main event. In 2nd generation a separate preparation ceremony is established. Moon Spirit resides in Underworld for part of the year. So it was to the Underworld Spirit, a preparation ceremony was created. The two rows of stones are attached to a walled in area on the west side. Continuing south there is a second walled in area about the same size as first. Beside but outside second walled in area is chamber #3. Continuing south there is a third walled in area with chamber #4 inside the area. Chamber #4 was the first part of the two part preparation ceremony. Inside is a crack in bedrock floor that was utilized as a drain. Drain was used to flow water embodied with Flowing Water Spirit to carry an offering to Underworld Spirit. The Underworld was symbolically represented by the ex-large boulder forming one of its walls which the drain ran underneath. Chamber #3 was built inside a six foot wide fissure, a very large Underworld spirit portal designed for people to enter the Underworld and for Underworld Spirit to emerge out of the Underworld and into the chamber with the people. It was used for the main part of preparation ceremony. A shaman participating in the preparation ceremony afterwards entered the main event area from the south. The three walled-in areas enclosed the east side and south end of the overall ceremonial area. The southern most walled-in area has a giant triangular configuration. At that stage the north end was still open. On the north end the original bridge cairn and standing stone feature had two more of the same type features added with one minor difference. A photograph of one of the other two bridge cairn and standing stone features shows the bridge on the ground. This is important because the second feature lacks a spirit portal and places the feature in the marker category. The original basic feature served as a perimeter marker and transitional feature. The addition of two more similar features served the same purpose as a marker. Original is near the row of stones on east side. Second is on west side of site and third is on north end. They are spaced out over a large area to form the triangle enclosing the north end of site. That created two giant triangles at opposite ends of the site. The south row of stones also has the triangle symbol. A few of standing stones have triangular tops. The row of stones contained Moon Spirit and Bird Spirit. The enclosed areas had Underworld Spirit, Flowing Water Spirit and Moon Spirit within their boundaries. The symbolic triangular configurations suggest they were used to contain spirits. The paved area on east side of row of stones suggests this was where a shaman led the ceremony. On west side there is a walled-in area. This suggests a select group of ordinary people also attended the ceremony. There is a second walled-in area without any structures or features. It is attached to the walled-in area beside the row of stones. This area may have been used by ordinary people to hold their own preparation ceremony. That would be consistent with the opposite theory whereby shaman had their preparation ceremony and ordinary people had their preparation ceremony. The moon ceremony at that point had two offerings water and stone, two ceremonies main and preparation each with two parts, main ceremony had two transition features one to leave the Underworld and second to enter Upperworld. Two spirits were involved with each part of main ceremony and two spirits were involved with preparation ceremony. The moon ceremony was in balance. 2nd Generation Moon Ceremony (Circa ? to 580 B.P.) (? to Late Woodland period) Second Generation People gather at the ceremonial area on an early December day, the day the full moon rises on the horizon at its most northeastern point. Ordinary people enter enclosed area in middle along east side where they hold a preparation ceremony in the Upperworld (above ground). A shaman goes to chamber #4 and enters the Underworld bringing with him/her a vessel of water from a brook. Flowing Water Spirit is contained within the water. Inside chamber shaman makes an offering of water and asks Flowing Water Spirit to carry the offering to the Underworld. Offering is made to invite Underworld Spirit into a preparation ceremony. Shaman next moves to chamber #3, the Underworld portal chamber where he/she enters inside. Inside Underworld Spirit is called forth to be present with the shaman. Shaman engages in a preparation ceremony and asks Underworld Spirit to send the full moon forth from Underworld. After the preparation ceremonies ordinary people and shaman enter from south walking to north end. People are carrying a stone to make an offering. Each person goes to their appropriate On Ground cairn and places their stone offering. Occasionally one of their shaman places a piece of pure quartz stone on the cairn to insure Stone Spirit does not wander into Upperworld. Stone Spirit is called upon to carry offering to Moon Spirit in the Underworld. From there people walk over to the bridge cairn and standing stone. A shaman calls forth Moon Spirit to enter the ceremonial area. Moon Spirit enters through spirit portal under the bridge cairn and is transitioned to earth’s Upperworld via standing stone which directs the spirit toward the row of stones. At row of stone Moon Spirit enters the crescent moon where Bird Spirit awaits it. Triangular top over bird effigy contains Bird Spirit in the row of stones. The shaman leading the ceremony takes his/her staff and enters paved area on east side. Everyone else enters enclosed area on west side of row of stones. Shaman places staff with half moon symbol in post hole and stands on paved surface. It is dusk, the sky is a deep dark blue and it is cold the water has frozen into ice. Shaman calls forth the full moon, the moon appears in its full glory slowly rising on the horizon at eye level with the people. Once the full moon is in the Upperworld a short distance above the horizon it casts a beam of light across the ice. Bird Spirit is called upon to guide Moon Spirit. Through ceremony Bird Spirit and Moon Spirit are released from the crescent moon. Once released, they are directed by the half moon symbol showing the spirits they are moving from one part of moon’s cycle to the next part. Then the two spirits travel through the “light” spirit portal that takes them across the ice ( water). On other side, Moon Spirit rejoins the full moon in Upperworld. |
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Double Stone Circle Area This area consists of chambers, enclosures, standing stones, a double circle of stones and stone walls. It is situated on the southwest corner of the site and is bordered on the west by a high cliff drop off and brook. There is one ceremonial area with both preparation and main ceremonial features/structures mixed in with each other. The area lacks stone cairns. This ceremonial area was designed to hold a sun ceremony. Chamber #1 has had a lot of focus because of its special features. It is a walk-in chamber that is a person can walk upright inside. Originally it had a restricted entry on SE corner facing east. It is the same configuration as chamber #3 entry. The chamber is long sixteen feet in comparison to #2 which is seven feet. Flooring of this chamber is not mentioned in any report. A large anchor boulder is on right of entry. Anchor boulder forms part of entry and part of wall of a small chamber built into main chamber. Small chamber is on NE corner. On the far west end of chamber there is a shaft that emits light into the chamber on equinox sunsets. Light beam stretches from shaft into entry of small chamber. The light beam from sun equates to the beam of light emitted by the moon. At top near roof level a niche was built into the entry in outside wall. The niche another new feature was used for a small offering also. Niche was created to work with an Underworld portal a few feet away to invite the Underworld Spirit into the chamber. However, since the ceremony required two of each feature another type of small offering feature had to be created. Outside at entry to main chamber there is a small groove in a stone at base level. This is another new feature, a small offering. The structure was buried under earthen fill. Small room was sealed shut when this chamber was originally excavated. Directly east of the entry into chamber #1 is another feature. Fifteen feet away is a small V-shaped enclosure composed of stone walling and raised ledge. Adjacent to enclosure in the exposed bedrock is a fissure this is an Underworld spirit portal. Inside the enclosure there had been a fallen standing stone. Standing stone is now wedged in the fissure next to enclosure. Chamber #2 is a seven foot long rectangular shaped interior room east of chamber #1. Chamber was built of stone cobbles with walls that corbel in near ceiling that is roofed with stone slabs. The structure was buried under earthen fill. It has an ex-large boulder forming it north wall (on right side of entry side). Right side of entry for ex-large boulder matches location of ex-large boulder walls in chambers #1 and #4. Chamber has half bedrock floor and half stone paved floor. It opens east and has a small groove at base of entry that matches small groove in chamber #1. A large solid quartz slab quarried on the north end of site was brought over to the chamber and used to close the chamber permanently. This closing equates to closing of small chamber inside chamber #1. Standing stones are apart of this ceremonial area. Emanating out of south side of chamber #1 is a stone wall leading to a square standing stone. Standing stone is one of three that John Dodge marked on his 1965 survey. The second standing stone (shape unknown) is west of chambers in area of cliff. Third standing stone is on north end either in the perimeter wall or just inside the wall. North standing stone is in middle of other two standing stones and forms a triangular arrangement. The same type of arrangement found with bridge cairn and standing stone features on north end of complex. In this area the standing stones are individual features that enclose stone circle and two chambers within a triangle. The two chambers are on an east–west line on the south end of site. Situated a short distance north of chambers is the double stone circle. Double stone circle has two rings of stone with a channel between the rings. In middle of inner ring is earthen fill. Channel is lined with paving stones to create a level surface. Stones forming the double ring were quarried nearby and shaped by using fire and hammering with stone hammers. This was a Native American technique used to quarry the stone. A section of outer ring was raised and supported underneath by stone shingles and earthen fill. Within that fill J. Whittall found charcoal which he had carbon dated. C-14 date is 1495 +/- 175 BP (C13 corrected) (GX15986) (ES 18-1, 13) This dates the circle to have been built circa 455 A.D. It places the construction within the Middle Woodland Period. An enclosure is associated with the chamber and circle feature but is outside the walled-in area. Enclosure is at base of cliff built up against a short outcrop. It is located next to the brook. Discussion There are parallels between the stone circle area and the row of stone area. The features change appearance like they did between original and 2nd generation moon ceremonies but at same time keep intact all the same functions. At the 2nd generation moon ceremony two chambers were built for the preparation ceremony. In the sun ceremony there are two chambers but one is associated with the main ceremony and other with the preparation ceremony. To keep the area in balance there could be only two chambers. At the same time, there needed to be a second part to each ceremony. In moon ceremony the main event had two different features comprising the two transitions stages. Also of note in the moon ceremony the two parts of main event were in the Upperworld and the two parts of the preparation event were in the Underworld. Two parts, two of the same features and two opposites had to be meshed to keep balance at the sun ceremony. The two chambers placed one part of main event and preparation event in the Underworld that meant the other part of each event needed to be built in the Upperworld to create opposites. Part one of preparation ceremony needed flowing water and an enclosed space encompassing Underworld. At base of cliff there is a short ledge that was used to build an enclosure up against it. The structure was in the Upperworld and at same time had a connection to Underworld via face of ledge. Nearby is a natural brook with flowing water. In the moon ceremony a natural pond was utilized in that ceremony. In sun ceremony the brook became the offering feature and in turn utilized a natural body of water. Flowing brook water embodied Flowing Water Spirit. Brook also formed a natural west side water boundary that equated to natural east side water boundary the pond. Chamber #2 was part two and was utilized to call forth Underworld Spirit inside the chamber. Part one had two parts the enclosure and brook, the chamber needed two parts. A small groove for a water offering was added to entry. Chamber #1 was used in part two of the main event, part one was needed. On the equinox the sun rises in east and sets in west forming a perfect half circle in the sky of Upperworld. The other half circle occurs during night hours in the Underworld. Together the two half circles form a complete whole circle. There are equal hours to day and night that equates to two parts. A complete circle was built with shaped stones on top of exposed bedrock on a raised section that is on higher ground than the chambers. Its placement puts the circle in the Upperworld. The circle is a recreation of the circle the sun makes around the earth on the equinox. It is a transition feature for Sun Spirit to leave the Upperworld. Each feature needs two parts. At row of stones a staff with a moon symbol was part two. At circle a round stone symbolic of the sun was the second part. The stone embodied Stone Spirit, an assisting spirit. Although a round stone has not yet been recovered there is evidence of an object being rolled around the channel. The object created minor rubbing patterns. Chamber #1 was part two. It was the transition feature for Sun Spirit to enter the Underworld. The sunset alignment inside the chamber provided a light beam, “light” spirit portal for Sun Spirit to travel through. For Sun Spirit to enter the Underworld it needed an assisting spirit for a guide. East of chamber entrance is an enclosure with an Underworld portal, the fissure. The Underworld Spirit was called forth from the portal and directed over to the chamber by a perishable offering placed inside the niche. Both spirits were directed into the small darkened chamber. At the moon ceremony there were two offering features. The preparation offering was flowing water inside a chamber. At sun ceremony that gets switched to natural brook and an enclosure. It maintains Flowing Water Spirit. Moon ceremony’s main event offering was stone with Stone Spirit. At sun ceremony the circle utilizes Stone Spirit as part of main event. At moon ceremony Still Water Spirit no longer assisted Moon Spirit but appears to still be present and active. (See 3rd generation moon ceremony) The pond was a boundary marker boundaries as seen in the triangles enclosed and contained spirits involved in the ceremonies. Keeping Still Water Spirit involved kept two opposite types of water spirits as part of moon ceremony. At the sun ceremony the people needed to find a suitable offering for the small groove offering feature and a means to involve Still Water Spirit. It appears the small groove may have served as a small offering feature and in a dual capacity of having Still Water Spirit present to contain Sun Spirit and Underworld Spirit inside the chamber. The small groove offering was also found on chamber #2 that had Underworld Spirit present inside. By adding Still Water Spirit it brought two water spirits to the sun ceremony. The small groove made up the second offering to create two offerings. At moon ceremony Still Water Spirit functions independent of a second spirit. In the sun ceremony Still Water Spirit also functions independent of a second spirit. This created a situation whereby a spirit participated as a single entity with one part. It was allowed because Still Water Spirit brought balance by being a second water spirit in each of the ceremonies but it did not go unnoticed. In the 3rd generation moon ceremony this situation was amended. The sun ceremony is the reverse of the moon ceremony. Sun ceremony was set up to work with sunset. Moon ceremony was set up to work with moonrise. Each ceremony is the opposite of the other. Sun Ceremony (Circa 455 A.D. to 580 A.D.) (Middle Woodland to Late Woodland Period) On the autumnal equinox people gather at the site. They have come to assist Sun Spirit in leaving Upperworld. There are no defined areas so it is unclear if ordinary people attended this ceremony along with shaman. A shaman goes to base of cliff where the Underworld is exposed to earth’s Upperworld and enters the sacred enclosure to participate in a preparation ceremony. Afterwards, shaman goes to brook and makes a water offering sending it via Flowing Water Spirit to Underworld Spirit. Next shaman climbs hill to top of cliff and enters chamber #2 to make contact with Underworld Spirit. This time contact needs to be made because Sun Spirit is about to enter the Underworld. At the circle, the sun symbol, the round stone ball embodied with Stone Spirit is asked to guide Sun Spirit into the circle. A shaman enters circle and recreates Sun Spirit’s journey around earth through Upperworld and Underworld. This allows Sun Spirit to transition from Upperworld to earth’s Underworld. It is part one of the main event. Part two takes place at sunset. A shaman places a perishable offering in the niche and then enters the small enclosure. Inside the scared space shaman calls forth Underworld Spirit to emerge out of Underworld and into Upperworld. This occurs for Underworld Spirit to be able to travel over to chamber. It was also done so that the people could have two enclosures as part of the sun ceremony. Before entering the chamber shaman makes a second offering of water with Still Water Spirit, then shaman and Underworld Spirit enter. Inside Underworld Spirit and shaman enter small chamber to await Sun Spirit. At sunset a light beam enters the small chamber. Sun Spirit is released from symbolic “sun” stone and travels via light portal into small chamber. Once inside Underworld Spirit guides Sun Spirit into the Underworld. Closing Theory Circa 1370 A.D. the 3rd generation moon ceremony was built. That places the closing date of the sun ceremony and 2nd generation moon ceremony in close proximity. The actual date the chambers at the two ceremonial areas were closed may post date the 1370 A.D. The two chambers #1 and #2 in sun ceremony area were permanently closed. Chamber #2 was discovered in the 1950’s when a fallen tree uprooted and exposed the chamber. The chamber had a pure quartz solid slab stone placed in its entry. Inside a small black metal pot was found and was said to have been brought to a college anthropology department for examination. The pot disappeared and has never been recovered. A small pot equates to a small offering basket. The pot may have been a trade item and may have been brass as David Barron suggested. The metal pot placed inside potentially post dates the closing of the ceremony. Actual date chamber had quartz slab placed at its entry to permanently close the structure is unknown. A post closing date of ceremonies places metal pot in range of early European explores and makes it a possible trade item. Special treatment was given to chamber #2. A small metal pot was placed inside with an offering. This is similar to pots in burials that were buried with the dead. The offering was placed inside for a spirit who was present. Chamber #2 had been used to call forth Underworld Spirit inside the chamber who had previously participated in a preparation ceremony. Next a pure quartz stone slab was quarried 3/10ths of a mile away and dragged over to the chamber. Quartz slab was then used to close the chamber. Quartz appears to represent a barrier that a spirit can not pass through. It is a different material than normal large solid stone representing the Underworld. A quartz slab, a large solid stone surface was used to symbolically block a spirit from either entering or leaving the chamber. In comparison chamber #1 with its sunset alignment had the inside small chamber’s entry closed with normal stone walling to appear as though there was no inside chamber. The main entry into chamber #1 was not closed. In the large chamber and small chamber Sun Spirit and Underworld Spirit were brought inside to transition into Underworld. In other words, chamber #1 acted like a spirit portal. Because of this difference the small chamber merely needed to be closed to protect the chamber from spirits entering. At the moon ceremony chamber #3 was also closed. Its closing was not as well done. Roof slabs were knocked down so they fell on the floor with earthen fill on top. Around contact period, a Native American made a ceremonious offering that equates to the metal pot inside chamber #2. A clay pipe was placed on top of the soil over the roof slabs. Above the soil and roof slabs with the pipe on top, stone rubble and more stone slabs were “obviously dumped” inside the chamber. The fissure was completely filled with stone so the Underworld Spirit could not emerge out of the fissure/chamber. The closing shut down the sun ceremony and the moon ceremony. This closed the whole south complex and the people moved their ceremonial area to a different section within the same local area called the north complex. They reconfigured and relocated the moon ceremony, only. The sun ceremony remained closed. The move involved a major change within the moon ceremony, it eliminated the light beam. A major part of the sun ceremony involved a light beam. This suggests a radical event involving light took place to disrupt the moon ceremony and close the sun ceremony. Since the sun ceremony was the one closed so meticulously it appears the disruption occurred in conjunction with the sun. An eclipse of the sun occurring on the particular equinox (autumnal or vernal), which ever one was used to hold their ceremony, would have blocked the Sun Spirit’s path in turn preventing the spirit from leaving Upperworld. The disruption was severe enough to eliminate use of stone chambers and switch to an above ground enclosed structure, the lodge. This moved people out of Underworld and into a Middleworld at earth’s surface. It occurred circa 1370 A.D. the earliest date associated with enclosure at north complex. |
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North Complex (Based upon a map by James Whittall II, with additional notations by Mary Gage) 1- Cairn on Boulder |
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North Complex The north complex is a single unit. Like the south complex it has natural features that form borders a swamp on its west side and a brook on its east. This correlates with south complex which has a swamp on its east side and a brook on its west side. North complex has a high cliff called the Cliff of Tears located on its north end that forms a border. Cliff correlates in several ways with south complex, it is high and the feature forms a border. The arrangement is slightly different but each complex has west, east and north side borders and the same three natural features. Lodge Area There are two paths that lead into the north complex one is on south end and second is on west side. Each path has two On Boulder cairns placed at what appear to be entry into the complex. South path has two individual cairns. One is an on boulder cairn. Second is an on boulder cairn with four flat stones and a carving of an arrow-like feature. Narrow point of arrow points towards the middle of ceremonial area. West side path passes between the cliff and swamp. On this path two cairns have been located. One is at base of cliff, and a second is on edge of swamp. A third boulder beside the path on swamp side has stones covering a feature. The large boulder has two crudely hewn basins and drains. The basins and drains were found covered with flat stones. This feature appears to be another cairn on a boulder. (According to Whittall’s 1987 map boulder with basin is between the two cairns on swamp side.) South path’s two cairns are on south side (outside ceremonial area) of a stone wall oriented on a diagonal west to east. A short distance along the south side east of cairns is a standing stone. The single standing is one of three. The other two standing stones are on top of cliff on its northeast corner. The three standing stone form a narrow triangle enclosing the north and south borders. Beside the south path is a hillside with a group of seventeen cairns called the cairn field. Each cairn has its own shape square, rectangular, tear drop, oval, etc. All the cairns are on the ground. A few excavations found the cairns were comprised entirely of stone. North and in center of north complex are two main features a lodge and large cairn. An earthen berm is all that is left of a Native American lodge. The berm had several sets of fire-harden ends of tree saplings embedded in it. This suggests repeated building of the lodge and long term usage. Young sapling trees were used to create a frame work for an elongated structure that was closed on one end and open on other end. The lodge was covered in either strips of bark, woven mats or animal skins. Size and orientation of lodge is not recorded in any article. Whittall’s map of north complex places lodge entry opening north facing the cliff. Entry is fully open. Two hearths were located outside of it. A short distance east of lodge is a large cairn partly on ground and partly on exposed bedrock. This is an elongated cairn with pointed ends on north and south with a wide middle. Its shape is boat-like and has been nicknamed the boat cairn. On top are three short triangular shaped standing stones one at south end, one at north end and one in the middle. The three standing stones form a short row of stones atop the cairn. The standing stones are perpendicular to length of cairn. Cairn and standing stones are oriented on a north-south line. North of the cairn is a single cairn near base of cliff. On top of cliff are two standing stones placed together. The boat cairn with its three triangular standing stones, the single cairn and two standing stones all line up with each other on a north-south orientation. A third standing stone also in line with these three features is found south of cairn field on south side of an east-west oriented stone wall. East of the boat cairn is a section of stone wall oriented north-south. Beyond stone wall is Slag Iron Brook with a north to south orientation. On east side of brook there is a large rock shelter used intermittently by Native Americans for approximately the past 4,000 years. Further east is an enclosure built up against a low ledge. Enclosure has a bedrock floor and two hearths one outside entry and one inside entry. |
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Discussion The arrangement of moon ceremony is altered due to the fact people can no longer enter the Underworld to hold preparation ceremonies. In turn, the people adopted Middleworld. Another change that took place was the elimination of a light beam but not the light. In addition, new spirits are introduced. In the south complex Moon Spirit entered the ceremonial area from the north. During that part of ceremony first a stone offering was made by four groups at the four cairns. Offering is carried by Stone Spirit to Moon Spirit in the Underworld. Then Moon Spirit is called forth to enter the ceremonial area. At north complex a stone offering is made by seventeen different groups who have on ground cairns near the south entry. Again Stone Spirit carries the offering to Moon Spirit in the Underworld. In this version, the offering is used to call forth Moon Spirit into Middleworld. The number of cairns on ground remains at four throughout the 2nd generation. In the 3rd generation the number of cairns goes up to seventeen. The four cairns represented the four groups who created the 2nd generation. What appears to have occurred, was other groups were allowed join the first four at the 2nd generation moon ceremony after it was established. But the additional groups were not allowed to create their own cairns on the ground. Whether or not these people were allowed to make a stone offering is not known. In the 3rd generation, seventeen groups are part of the establishment of the ceremony and gain the privilege of creating a cairn on the ground. That allowed each group to make a stone offering. Once the features of a ceremony were created and built (established) they could not be altered. Nothing could be added as seen in the 2nd generation staying with the original four cairns on the ground. However, when a follow up version of the ceremony is created, additions are a critical part. Additions allowed a way to introduce updated ideas, carryover what had been an updated idea in previous version and to accommodate additional groups of people. In the 2nd generation the spirit was given a portal, site marker and directional marker this was the bridge cairn with open-space underneath and standing stone near the row of stones. In the north complex the spirit entry is relocated to the south with new features. This is the reverse (opposite) of south complex. The site marker reverted back to original version of an On Boulder cairn. The portal and directional marker are converted to a boulder with an arrow carving and four flat stones on top. The portal is eliminated because it is no longer needed and replaced by this special On Boulder cairn. The four flat stones represent the four Elders, spirits of the four groups who established the 2nd generation moon ceremony. Moon Spirit is now in Middleworld and enters from south where the four Elder’s Spirits are present to assist and guide Moon Spirit into the ceremonial area. The idea of a spirit(s) to guide Moon Spirit into the site is a carryover from the sun ceremony where Sun Spirit is guided onto site by Stone Spirit. The idea of people’s spirits in the four Elder’s Spirits is a new addition. In the south complex the people entered from the south after having taken part in their preparation ceremonies. In north complex people enter from the west at a point where the cliff rises up and the swamp meets the cliff’s Underworld. In the sun ceremony a small water offering was made at the entry into the Underworld, the two chambers. In north complex, there are two small basin and drain offering features on top of the same boulder. The oversight at the sun ceremony that had Still Water Spirit as a single spirit associated with a small offering is rectified here. The basin replaces the small groove as a feature to contain still water and a drain is added for flowing water. This created a two part feature. Two of each feature is carved into the boulder. This suggests shamans shared their small offering feature with the ordinary people and now each group participated in making a small offering. The two water offerings suggest the swamp with Still Water Spirit and the brook with Flowing Water Spirit had these two spirits take part in containing the spirits involved with the moon ceremony. The swamp is on west side and brook is on east side. In the south complex the swamp is on east side and brook on west side, the reverse (opposite) of north complex. There are two On Boulder cairns one on each side of small offering feature. The cairns are markers for people to enter one for each group (shaman and ordinary people). Having two of each feature is thoroughly ingrained into the culture to maintain balance. The south complex had two chambers (per ceremony) underground in the Underworld to hold two parts of a preparation ceremony. Since the Underworld could no longer be entered by people alternative structures were needed. In the sun ceremony, an enclosure built up against a short ledge, exposed Underworld, was created to overcome the need of a structure associated with the Underworld but in the Upperworld. For the 3rd generation moon ceremony an enclosure was built for the same purpose. Previous enclosure was built outside the ceremonial area and beside a brook. Moon ceremony enclosure was built outside the ceremonial area and on side with a brook. The brook in each case created a two part set up to that part of the preparation ceremony. Brook was used to send a water offering via Flowing Water Spirit to Underworld Spirit. However, in this moon ceremony it also carried a message to send the full moon into the Upperworld. These are minor but important changes as the people can no longer make direct contact with Underworld Spirit. The shaman who participates in the preparation ceremony is on east side of site. When he/she re-enters the site they do so from the east. This is the opposite of the west path used as the main entry. In south complex opposites became an important part of the overall ceremony. Part two of the preparation ceremony is now an entirely different ceremony with an entirely different spirit plus it place in the overall ceremony now comes after part of the main event. At the south complex the main event took place at the row of stone a recreation of a crescent moon. At north complex row of standing stones equates to large elongated (boat) cairn with standing stones on top. Row of standing stones has short standing stones on north and south ends and large standing stones in middle. Boat cairn has pointed south and north ends equating to short ends of stone rows. Middle is wide equating to large stones in row. A crescent moon has two pointed ends and a thick middle. Both the Row of Standing Stones and Boat Cairn are recreations of the crescent moon. On top are three standing stones in a row perpendicular to length of cairn. Row of standing stones has stones in a row perpendicular to length of wall. Some stones in row have triangular shaped tops. Standing stones on boat cairn are triangular shaped. Row of stones has individual stones spaced apart and in a row. Standing stones on boat cairn are spaced apart and in a row. Boat cairn is oriented north-south. Rows of stones are oriented north-south. Northeast of stone rows are two on boulder style cairns. One is on bedrock and other is on a boulder. The cairn on a boulder has stone on top and trailing to ground. Boat cairn was built half on ground and half on exposed bedrock. Boulder cairn and boat cairn each have cairn stones on stone and on ground. Cairns on ground and on stone at same time form a transition feature for the Moon Spirit between Upperworld and Underworld. Row of stones had a post hole for a staff with moon symbolism used as a directional marker and stone paving. This created two parts to the row of stones. North of the boat cairn is a single cairn. Single cairn took place of staff with directional marker in guiding Moon Spirit where to go once it left the boat cairn and created two parts to the transition feature. In this version Moon Spirit rejoins the full moon in Underworld verses in Upperworld as it had done in the past. This creates an opposite from the past ceremonies whereby Moon Spirit rejoined full moon in the Upperworld. Another opposite is Moon Spirit enters from south and leaves through the north. The new arrangements improved balance. In the previous moon ceremony Moon Spirit transitioned by traveling over the water or ice to reach the full moon. The single cairn was placed at base of cliff, the exposed Underworld. In this version, Moon Spirit travels through the Underworld to rejoin the full moon. On top of ledge above the cairn are two standing stones. These two standing stones are in line with a third on south end. Together they form a narrow triangle enclosing the main event features. The triangle forms a second set of three standing stones. The first set is three short triangles on top of boat cairn. In south complex there are two sets of standing stone triangles. North of row of stones are three bridge-cairn and standing stone features. Enclosing the sun ceremony are three individual standing stones. The two sets of three triangles equate to each other. Both were used to contain spirits. In the south complex Moon Spirit was guided by a light beam and Bird Spirit to transition to the full moon. At north complex there was a new arrangement and a new assisting spirit introduced. The lodge has two parts an enclosed structure in Middleworld and two hearths at its entry. The enclosed structure is the opposite of the enclosure an open-roofed structure. Enclosure on east side of area does not have a spirit present inside the spirit is in the brook. Lodge was enclosed for the purpose of having a spirit inside, Fire Spirit. In previous preparation ceremonies Underworld Spirit was the spirit inside an enclosed structure, the chamber. Underworld Spirit no longer made contact with people so another spirit was needed to fill the vacancy. Fire Spirit also replaced Bird Spirit as guide for Moon Spirit. Fire Spirit was chosen because it had two things to offer. The spirit could assist Moon Spirit and could provide light. Contact was made to ask Fire Spirit to provide the light. One of the two hearths was used to call forth Fire Spirit and invite it into the lodge to make contact with a shaman. Second hearth creates part two and was used for the light. The firelight replaced the beam of light on water or ice previously. Lodge also created another opposite in that one part of preparation ceremony is inside the ceremonial area and one part, the enclosure is outside the ceremonial area as seen the previous moon and sun ceremonies. The two hearths meet the two same feature standards as in two small grooves or two basin/drains. 3rd Generation Moon Ceremony (Circa 1370 A.D.) (middle of Late Woodland Period) People gather at west side path following in the footsteps of their ancestors who for the past two thousand five hundred years had come early each winter to Gungywamp to assist and celebrate Moon Spirit’s return to the full moon and Upperworld. Previous to the first moon ceremony held in the north complex the shaman had held a special ceremony. They built a fire outside at entry to the enclosure. Shaman then gathered inside and called forth Fire Spirit to assist the people in making this a sacred place to hold the moon ceremony. Now it was time for people to come. Each person has brought with him or her two small containers of water carrying swamp water and water from a brook. Each person also carries a stone. The people represent seventeen different groups who participated in creating a 3rd generation moon ceremony. When they reach the two On Boulder cairns they stop and uncover the basin/drain features. Everyone participates in making a water offering to Still Water Spirit in the swamp and Flowing Water Spirit in the brook. Offering asks the spirits to contain the spirits participating in the transition part of the moon ceremony. From there the people walk on until they reach the south path. They take the south path out to the cairn field. At cairn field each person goes to his or her group’s On Ground cairn. People place their stone offering on the appropriate cairn asking Stone Spirit to carry the offering and a message into the Underworld to Moon Spirit. The message calls Moon Spirit forth from the Underworld into Middleworld. Moon Spirit leaves Underworld and enters Middleworld outside the ceremonial area. To show Moon Spirit where to enter the ceremonial area an On Boulder cairn has been set up on the south path outside the area. Nearby is a second On Boulder cairn with the four Elder’s spirits and a directional arrow pointing towards the ceremonial area. Moon Spirit meets up with the Elders at the entrance and is guided by them over to the crescent moon recreation, the boat cairn. Once inside the inner area Moon Spirit is contained by the triangles. At this point, a shaman leaves the ceremonial area and goes to the enclosure. Inside the enclosure shaman is in contact with the Underworld but not with Underworld Spirit. Shaman holds first part of a preparation ceremony. Afterwards shaman goes to brook for second part and makes water offering that holds a message, offering and message are carried by Flowing Water Spirit to Underworld Spirit. Shaman asks Underworld Spirit to send forth the full moon. Shaman re-enters from the east. Shaman returns to inner ceremonial area and rejoins the other people. Moon Spirit is now in the crescent moon phase of the transition a place between Underworld and Upperworld. The people hold a ceremony to celebrate Moon Spirit returning from Underworld. It is near the time Moon Spirit is to leave the crescent moon (boat cairn). A shaman goes to the lodge and builds a fire. Fire Spirit is called forth into the lodge where shaman makes contact with the spirit. During contact Fire Spirit is asked to give light for part two of the main event and then a second fire is built. This fire provides the light signaling Moon Spirit it is time to leave the crescent moon. Moon Spirit is guided northward by firelight and Fire Spirit to the cairn at base of cliff. Cairn marks the place where Moon Spirit is to enter the Underworld. Moon Spirit enters Underworld so it can travel to the full moon which it rejoins in Underworld. People gather to await Moon Spirit and full moon. Soon the two will appear behind the two standing stones atop the northeast corner on top of the cliff. As always there is two of everything. At moonrise, people celebrate Moon Spirit’s return to Upperworld. The ceremony ends. Early next winter people will return again to Gungywamp and gather together to assist Moon Spirit and celebrate the spirit’s return. VI. C14 Dates and other Datable Materials Several structures have associated C-14 dates and/or datable artifacts. There is a noticeable correlation between the cultural periods and ceremonial structures. Rock Shelter The rock shelter is a shallow cave beside and east of Slag Iron Brook. Cave opens to west. Numerous excavations have taken place at the rock shelter. Several cultural periods are represented Late Archaic, Terminal Archaic / Early Woodland and Late Woodland. Connecticut state archaeologist Nicholas Bellantoni stated he felt the lowest level which had fires but no charcoal may date back to 3500 to 4000 B.P. Susquehanna points, crude dentate pottery tempered with sandy pebbles and charcoal dated to 2650 B.P. were found with in same level and represent a border line Terminal Archaic to Early Woodland period. A second type of pottery was kiln-dried, grass-tempered pottery found with bones, lithic tools, and projectile points. Grass-tempered relates to fiber tempered which is associated with Late Woodland period. Late Woodland period is represented by Iroquois type pottery (1200 – 1600 A.D.) and cedar stakes. The group with the Iroquois type pottery may have stayed outside the cave. Their artifacts were found in the apron area at entrance. If this is the case, then it holds with Native American culture for local area switching from entering a cave viewed as the Underworld to not entering the Underworld. The pottery date range falls with the 1370 A.D. date recovered from enclosure at north complex. Date is earliest for the north complex. According to Guidebook there were five different types of pottery shards found at the rock shelter. Two had no information or date ranges. The cave has two natural features inside. There are two fissures one is a large fissure in the corner. Barron states large fissure was an updraft drawing air and smoke out of cave. A second fissure creates “natural cooling drafts falling downward from yet another fissure.” (Guidebook 1994, 35) Rock shelter had evidence of periodic usage. Yet the site appears to have seen yearly usage for nearly four thousand years. Rock shelter cave has two fissures one bringing in air from outside and one taking inside air out to outside. Given the usage of another fissure in bedrock as a spirit portal to Underworld it is possible the cave’s fissures were considered spirit portals, also. It is also possible some kind of special feasting took place periodically in conjunction with the ceremonies. The Late Woodland period group with Iroquois type pottery usage of rock shelter suggests this scenario. This group stayed outside entrance to cave yet used the cave. There had to be a reason for this behavior. If the group was celebrating the opening of the north complex the behavior would be appropriate. Enclosure east of Rock Shelter The enclosure is associated with the north complex. Two hearths were located one inside entry and a second outside the entry. Hearth inside yielded a C14 date 130 +/- 75 B.P. (1820 A.D.) GX1147. Hearth outside yielded a C14 date 580 +/- 240 B.P. (1370 A.D.) GX13071 (ES 18-1, 63) These two dates represent two different episodes. The latest is one hundred years earlier than the date on the token found in the lodge. Lodge One projectile point and a 1916 trolley token. Double Stone Circle Circle was dated by charcoal taken from earthen fill under outer stones in ring. C-14 date 1495 +/- 175 B.P. (455 A.D.) GX15986 (ES 18-1, 63) The date places the building of the double stone circle in the Middle Woodland period. Stone Rows North row of stones is quite deteriorated. At least one of the two cairns on stone near row of stones has water washed stones with smooth bottoms facing down and pitted tops exposed to the weather elements. Both show great age. Cross-Check Comparisons In the south complex the north stone row and stone cairn with pitted stone tops suggests they are both very old features. The earliest use of rock shelter places Native Americans in the immediate area 3500 to 4000 years ago. The 2650 B.P. date places Native Americans in the area during early part of Early Woodland period. Twenty-six hundred to thirty-five hundred years is a long time, stones exposed to the elements for over two to three thousand years continuously may have caused the pitted tops. Five different pottery types were found at the rock shelter. One was from Early Woodland period. Two appear to be from Late Woodland period. Two are unidentified. The double stone circle was constructed during the Middle Woodland period. It has been sequenced within the life of the site to have been constructed between the stone rows and north complex. The earliest stone row appears to date to either Late Archaic or Early Woodland and the north complex dates to Late Woodland. In the north complex, rock shelter produced Iroquois type pottery with a date range from 1200 A.D. to 1600 A.D. along with cedar stakes. Lodge was identified by fire hardened sharpened ends of tree saplings placed in a berm equal to cedar stakes. Enclosure’s outside hearth yielded a 1370 A.D. date. The enclosure’s date is in middle of Iroquois pottery range of dates. These features all coordinate with each other suggesting Native Americans were using north complex’s enclosure and lodge starting circa 1400 A.D. Inside the lodge a 1916 trolley token was found. Inside hearth at enclosure dates to 1820 A.D. These two dates are approximately one hundred years apart. American occupation in the immediate area is evidenced by house foundations, earliest is dated to 1783. Gungywamp Society has evidence of people presumably Native Americans who visit the site periodically. The 1820 and 1916 dates are directly associated with ceremonial features and fall within pattern of people secretly visiting the site in recent times. The dates suggest this site is continuing to be used as a place to hold ceremonies. VII. Conclusion The Native Americans who established the original moon ceremony 3500 years ago created a ceremony for the living. They set their ceremony up by adhering to two cultural concepts balance and a belief that a spirit transitioning from one world to another world needed assistance. Balance took the form of two parts. Two parts meant there were to be two parts to a ceremony and two spirits to each part. The parts could be the same, different or opposite. Opposite starts out being Upperworld verses Underworld. This expands to include moonrise verses sunset, preparation verses main ceremony, small water offering verses main ceremonial water offering and south end verses north end. Same starts out being two transition parts with different features. That transitions into two chambers, two of the same feature with two different parts of the transition. Examples of same two are: two chambers, two enclosures, two small grooves, two On Boulder cairns, etc. The idea of same two becomes ingrained and is carried on in future ceremonies. The idea of opposites becomes ingrained and is carried on in future ceremonies. Each concept becomes more emphasized throughout the years. By the 3rd generation moon ceremony opposites are east and west, and north and south. East and west represent entry points for people and water boundaries with opposite water spirits, Still Water and Flowing Water Spirits, who assist in containing other spirits within the ceremonial area. North and south represent entry and exit points for Moon Spirit and physical boundaries enclosed by an ex-large triangle that contains Moon Spirit and assisting spirits within the ceremonial area. There are other ideas that become established over the years. For Sun or Moon Spirit to transition into the next world there had to be a light source. Light source starts out with a beam of light and evolves into fire light. In three of the four ceremonies shaman make contact with one spirit. The original spirit they made contact with was Underworld Spirit in a preparation ceremony. In the 3rd generation moon ceremony the spirit was switched to Fire Spirit. To make contact with a spirit a totally enclosed structure was necessary. The structure starts out as an underground chamber in the Underworld. When change occurs and the people can no longer enter the Underworld that puts a stop to making contact with Underworld Spirit. In turn, they redesign the structure and erect an above ground lodge in Middleworld and invite Fire Spirit. Fire Spirit is chosen because the spirit had a similar attribute to Underworld Spirit in that it had something Moon Spirit needed. Underworld Spirit gave Moon Spirit the full moon. Fire Spirit gave Moon Spirit fire light. Making contact with a spirit had a specific purpose to ask that spirit to offer what it had to another spirit. Chambers as a specific type of structure are associated with the Underworld and spirits. The cultural belief system starts out with two worlds Upper and Under. Circa 1370 A.D. Middleworld is added to the belief system while still maintaining Upperworld and Underworld. That created three worlds. Three was a number already in use within the triangle. In the 3rd generation moon ceremony to have the three standing stones in the triangle form two parts, two standing stones were placed close together on one end and a single was placed on opposite end. This created two parts while it maintained three separate pieces to form the triangle. It also created a set of 2 and 1. After Middleworld was added the ceremony is adjusted. Moon Spirit leaves Underworld and enters Middleworld in first part of transition. In second part of transition, Moon Spirit leaves Middleworld and re-enters Underworld. This forms opposites and accommodates Middleworld. In previous ceremonies there was always a transition from either Underworld to Upperworld or from Upperworld to Underworld, that part of the ceremony also needed to be apart of the ceremony. That created a third part, a transition whereby Moon Spirit leaves Underworld and enters Upperworld. Through an in genius reconfiguring the Native Americans were able to maintain continuity and at same time incorporate a third entity while incorporating two parts at all times. They carried forward an idea in place from previous ceremonies that was mandated to be kept in use, and still managed to keep their 3rd generation moon ceremony in balance. SELECTED REFERENCES Barron, David P. Barron, David P. & Sharon Mason Whittall, James II Whittall, James II & David P. Barron Willoughby, Charles |
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