Turtle Mound: Difference between revisions

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* A cairn located at 7 Lakeside Circle overlooking Haggetts Pound in West Andover. (Definition of a cairn from dictionary.com: a heap of stones set up as a landmark, monument, or tombstone.)
A stone cairn found in Andover overlooking Haggetts Pond in West Andover is possibly the oldest stone structure in America. It is named Turtle Mound because an arial view resembles a turtle. The boulders vary in size from pebbles to 3 tons.
* Possibly the oldest stone structure in America.  
 
* A pile of granite boulders deliberately stacked on top of each other about 70 feet long and 15 feet wide. The stones range in size from pebbles to 3 tons.
Turtle Mound contains two cave-like chambers, eight feet in diameter and 10 feet high. A rock-lined tunnel that cuts through one end of the mound.   
* From above the mound is roughly shaped like a turtle.
 
* It is contains two cave-like chambers of either side and a rock-lined tunnel that cuts through one end of the mound.  The chambers are about eight feet in diameter and ten feet high inside.
In a 1951 study of the structure, Yale archeologist Frank Glynn found a layer of human bones mixed with charcoal indicating the structure was used for ceremonial and cremation purposes. Radiocarbon dating  of the charcoal sets the date at 2000 B.C.
* Frank Glynn in, a Yale archeologist, found a layer of human bones mixed with charcoal indicating an ancient ceremonial and cremation. (1951)
He also found spear points, axe  heads, hammer stones, and drills. These he dates at 3000 B.C.
* Glynn found stone artifacts : spear points, axe  heads, hammer stones, and drills which he dates at 3000 B.C.
 
* Radiocarbon dating the charcoal sets the date at 2000 B.C.
One of the owners of the property, a M. Harnois, built a shrine to a saint on the site in 1914. Evidence of Harnois' shrine still exists.
* One of the owners of the property, a M. Harnois, built a shrine to a saint on the site in 1914. Evidence of Harnois' shrine still exists.


See
See

Revision as of 14:00, 17 April 2007

A stone cairn found in Andover overlooking Haggetts Pond in West Andover is possibly the oldest stone structure in America. It is named Turtle Mound because an arial view resembles a turtle. The boulders vary in size from pebbles to 3 tons.

Turtle Mound contains two cave-like chambers, eight feet in diameter and 10 feet high. A rock-lined tunnel that cuts through one end of the mound.

In a 1951 study of the structure, Yale archeologist Frank Glynn found a layer of human bones mixed with charcoal indicating the structure was used for ceremonial and cremation purposes. Radiocarbon dating of the charcoal sets the date at 2000 B.C. He also found spear points, axe heads, hammer stones, and drills. These he dates at 3000 B.C.

One of the owners of the property, a M. Harnois, built a shrine to a saint on the site in 1914. Evidence of Harnois' shrine still exists.

See

  • Andover Guide Spring 2007, "A Look at Andover Turtle Mound" by Tom Draheim
  • Ruins of Great Ireland in New England, Andover Room R 973.11 Goo, pages 102 to 108.
  • NEARA Newsletter (New England Antiquities Research Association Newsletter), December 1969. This is found in the Andover Vertical File under architecture.
  • NEARA Site Report Sheet. This is found in the Andover Vertical File under architecture.
Andover Guide, “Turtle Mound," by Tom Draheim, page 15 .....click to enlarge





Eleanor 16:16, November 3, 2006 (EST) back to Main Page

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