Stones of Northeastern U.S - Recommended Books

America’s Stonehenge Deciphered
Written By Mary Gage
Photographs by James Gage

For the ancient Native Peoples, the place known to us as America’s Stonehenge (Mystery Hill) was a sacred place. For 2500 years they came annually to hold ceremonies with the spirits. At first, they came on the summer solstice and then later they came for the winter solstice and spring equinox. They built ritual structures like stone chambers, cairns, drains, basins, enclosures, and standing stones as part of their ceremonial areas. As the ceremonies were altered and added to, new ceremonial structures were built to accommodate them. These structures were constructed for specific purposes, contained symbolism meaningful to their culture, and had distinct architectural styles. The result is an amazing archaeological record of the 2500 year cultural history of this sacred place.

America’s Stonehenge Deciphered explores the purpose of these structures, the ceremonies held at them, and the meaning behind the symbolism built into them. It traces how these cultural beliefs were passed from generation to generation and how they were added to and altered to meet the changing needs of their culture. What emerges from this is a profound respect for the intelligence, sophistication, and the depth of their spiritual worldview, culture, and their expertise with building stone structures.

Trade Paperback. 274 pp. 199 illustrations 6 x 9 inches.
ISBN 0-9717910-4-X
Price $15.95

CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT

IT HAS BEEN REPLACED BY OUR NEW BOOK:

The Architecture of America’s Stonehenge (2021)


	What is America’s Stonehenge? Built on the exposed bedrock summit of Mystery Hill in North Salem, New Hampshire is a complex of stone chambers, standing stones, carved drains, and other types of stone structures. The site covers appromixately 100 acres but is best known for its main complex on the top of the hill which covers about 1 acre (shown in photo). C-14 dates found in association with Native American quarry tools have established that the site began construction nearly 3,000 years ago. Over the next 2500 years Native Americans came to the site on yearly basis to celebrate various ceremonies on the Summer Solstice, Winter Solstice, and later in the site’s history the Spring Equinox. America’s Stonehenge site is located in Salem, NH. It is open daily for self-guided tours. For directions, admission fees, and hours please visit www.StonehengeUSA.com

		Visit our America’s Stonehenge web site.

	TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 – Beginnings Chapter 2 – The Spirit World Upperworld & Underworld Nature of Spirits Principle Spirits Movement of Spirits Spirit Portals Offering Niches Types of Offerings Chapter 3 – Cultural Ideas Chapter 4 – Natural Features Era (Phase 1) Exposed Bedrock Ledge and Crystal Geode Natural Spring Wetlands Pool Initial Ceremonies Conclusion Chapter 5 – Low Wall Era (Phase 2) Original Summer Solstice Ceremonial Area I. Original Summer Solstice Sunrise Alignment Stone II. Preparation Enclosures III. Ditch Drain, Stone Ramp, and Large Basin IV. True South Offering Wall V. Niche-in-Wall VI. Conclusion – Summer Solstice Ceremonial Area Clay Pit Underworld Ceremonial Area at the Cliff I. Two Caves and Vertical Cliff Face II. Southward Extension of bedrock from the Cliff Winter Solstice Sunset Ceremonial Area I. Winter Solstice Sunset Alignment II. Plain Triangular Standing Stone (Erected in Phase 5) III. Two Boulders IV. High & Low Offering Walls V. South Side Perimeter Wall VI. Conclusion - Winter Solstice Sunset Ceremonial Area Winter Solstice Water Ceremonial Area I. Enclosure, Dividing Wall, and L-Shaped Ditch Drain II. North Stone Enclosed Area III. Conclusion - Winter Solstice Water Ceremonial Area Original Springtime Rain Water Ceremonial Area I. Ditch and Covered Drain at Wetland’s Pool II. Sump Pit and Two Cairns III. Conclusion – Springtime Rain Water Ceremonial Area Ravine – Southwest Entrance Chapter 6 – Tall Thick Wall Era (Phase 3) Storage Chamber added to Summer Solstice Area I. Tilted Roof Storage Chamber (a/k/a Mensal Stone) Tall Wall Water Preparation Unit I. Tall Wall Storage Chamber (a/k/a Tall Wall) II. Covered Drain (Alcove of Oracle Chamber) III. Grooved Drain IV. Conclusion – Tall Wall Water Preparation Unit Rain Water & Crystal Preparation Unit I. Rain Water & Crystal Storage Chamber II. Grooved Drain/Basin III. Conclusion - Rain Water & Crystal Preparation Unit Relocation of Springtime Rain Water Main Ceremony to Hill Top I. Covered Drain, Sump Pit & Paved Walkway II. Cupule Stone III. Conclusion – Springtime Rain Water Main Ceremony Half Circle Ceremonial Unit I. Large Niche Area II. Quartz Quarry (Native American) III. Half Circle Enclosure -West Side IV. Half Circle Enclosure (a/k/a The Pulpit) V. Half Circle Enclosure – East Side Relocation of Storage Chamber and Hill Top Entrance I. South Facing Storage Chamber II. Lower Processional Way’s Upper Section III. Passage Cairn Chapter 7 – Walk-In Chamber Era, Part I (Phase 4) Collapsed Chamber Preparation Unit I. Offering Drain and Basin II. Enclosure and Collapsed Walk-In Chamber Spring Equinox Sunrise Ceremonial Area I. Equinox Sunrise Alignment Stone II. Lodge III. Conclusion - Spring Equinox Sunrise Ceremonial Area East Entrance to Hill Top Ceremonial Complex I. Lower Processional Way II. Lower East Side Storage Chamber (a/k/a Watch House Chamber) III. Water Well Sunken Ceremonial Unit Abandoned Chamber Unit Chapter 8 – Walk-In Chamber Era, Part II (Phase 4) New Summer Solstice Sunrise Ceremonial Area Ramp, Grooved Stone Waterfall Drain, & Oracle Chamber Unit I. Ramp Area II. Grooved Stone Waterfall Drain Area III. Oracle Chamber Area IV. Conclusion – Ramp, Grooved Stone Waterfall Drain, & Oracle Chamber Unit Summer Solstice Sunset Ceremonial Area I. Pre-Ceremonial Area II. Processional Way, Main Entrance, Underworld Spirit Portal III. Ordinary People’s Offering Wall IV. Sunset Alignment Stone and other Symbolic Stones V. Underworld Portal – Down Slope VI. Small Underworld Spirit Ceremonial Area End of an Era I. Fire Ceremony at North Stone II. Closing of Several Structures and Ceremonial Features III. Conclusion – End of an Era Chapter 9 – Slab Wall Era (Phase 5) North Entrance & Upper Processional Way I. North Entrance II. Upper Processional Way East-West Walk-In Chamber Summer Solstice Sunrise and Ramp I. 2nd Crystal Well Summer Solstice Sunset Ceremonial Area at Cairn Fields I. Layout of Wall System II. Cairns in Large Cairn Field III. Cairns in Small Cairn Field IV. Summer Solstice Sunset Alignment Stone and Associated Features V. Underworld Niche and Spirit Portal outside the Cairn Fields VI. Conclusion – Summer Solstice Sunset Ceremony Area Final Closing of Site Chapter 10 - After the Final Closing Chapter 11 – Reconstruction of Ceremonies Spring Equinox Summer Solstice Winter Solstice Appendix A – Rectangular and Triangular Shapes Appendix B – Prehistoric and Historic Quarrying Appendix C – Myth of Two Central Viewing Points Appendix D – Petroglyph of Merrimack River Bibliography