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AMERICA’S
STONEHENGE
(MYSTERY HILL, SALEM, NEW HAMPSHIRE) This archeological site was originally opened to
the public in 1958 as “Mystery Hill Caves.”
The name became “America’s Stonehenge” in 1982 as acquired data
indicated its relationship to the Stonehenge in England (see Photos).
Various names have been given to the many structures found at the
site. William B. Goodwin who was the
first researcher to purchase the site in 1937 labeled some, like the
Sacrificial Table. Frank Glynn named
many while he was president of the Connecticut Archeological Society in the
1950’s as he was correlating the site with Bronze Age cultures of Europe.
The site is thought to have been constructed principally to predict
astronomical events and is under continuous research and study. Such events were of considerable importance
to the maritime culture that is thought to have predominated in the
area. The public generally accesses
only 20 acres of the total 110 acres.
Continuous efforts are made to date various excavations using the
radiocarbon method. Estimates have
produced dates as early as 2,000 B.C.
with all alignments having been fixed around 1,500 B.C. The alignments that have been identified
are as follows (see Map below):
A. Equinox Alignment.-- This alignment is accurate for both Spring
and Fall Equinox sunsets.
B. Moon Standstill Alignment.-- As viewed from a large boulder about 20 ft.
north of the south end of this wall, the Winter Solstice Stone becomes the
most southerly position of the 18.61 year cycle of the moon. At the end of each cycle due to its
seeming nonmovement this phenomenon is referred to as the Standstill of the
Moon. The Winter sunset alignment
also passes across the southernmost end of this wall.
C. Winter Solstice Sunset Monolith.-- This was the firs monolith suspected to be a
solar alignment. Robert E. Stone
photographed it at sunset on 21 December, 1970. The principal stone marked the southern most set of the sun at
about 2,000 B.C., but today has changed because of changes in the earth’s
tilt.
D. February 1st Sunset Alignment.-- This standing stone is aligned to the
setting sun on the first of February.
It also lines up with the northern edge of a stone circle 25 ft. to
the west, off the trail system. It
has been determined to be a lunar minor alignment. Another lunar alignment passes through the center of the “Watch
House.” E. November 1st Stone.-- This stone is aligned with the November 1st
sunset, a date that has considerable importance in many ancient calendars. F. Large Curved Wall.-- This wall that is aligned to true north is
similar to post colonial walls that were used as rock dumps, but additional
research is required. The May 1st
sunset alignment crosses the northernmost end of the wall.
G.
Summer Solstice Sunset Monolith.-- This is similar to the Winter Solstice
Monolith but lines up with the summer solstice sunset, the most northerly
setting of the sun about 2,000 B.C. at the Salem, New Hampshire latitude.
H.
Eye Stone.-- The stone is badly weathered but contains an unknown carving. It appears to be another lunar alignment
for the 18.61 year cycle of the moon as viewed from the observational center.
I.
True North Stone.-- This stone (Photo) aligns with the true
north for the pole star. Excavations
around the base of the stone uncovered a fire pit located at a higher level
than its base. This indicates that
the stone has been in place prior to the fire pit. A radio-carbon dating of charcoal samples give a date of 650
A.D.
J. Summer Solstice Sunrise Stone.-- This stone was aligned with a stone circle
located ca. halfway between it and the viewing platform around 1,500
B.C. At that date the sun rose at the
top of the notch in the far northeast horizon. By 2004 the sun rises at the bottom of that notch. The difference is due to the changing tilt
of the earth and this provides another means for determining the age of the
site.
K.
May Day Monolith.-- May day is an important day that has been celebrated since ancient
times. This fallen stone is the
largest monolith to be discovered at the site. It aligns with May 1st to the present day.
L.
Multi-Stonding Stone Wall.-- The wall is still mostly in its original condition. A number of standing stones are slightly
leaning and resemble the teeth of a shark.
M.
Equinox Sunrise Stone.-- At the spring and autumn equinox the sun rises over this fallen
monolith.
N.
November 1st Sunrise.-- There is a fallen stone here that is aligned
with the November 1st sunrise.
There is a “V-shaped” notch at the edge of what was the top of the
stone. In this way it is similar to
the Bert Stone, one of the two stones aligned with the Winter Solstice
Monolith. O. Bert Stone.--
From this stone with
its notch on top it is thought one would observe the winter solstice sunrise.
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