One probable
diagnostic indicator of Indigenous Ceremonial Stonework, in both rows of stones
and smaller piles of stones, is the placement of certain stones so that the
chosen stone appears to resemble the head of an animal or human, creating a
zoomorphic or anthropomorphic effigy. My first experience in observing a
zoomorphic stone happened back in 1997 when I came across a stone I thought at first glance was an animal skull on a flat topped boulder. Closer
observation led me to believe that the stone was an effigy of a bear, the
associated stone the base for a fire starter, both possibly used with some sort
of shell containing a tobacco mixture.
Longer Video of this
Bear Stone Rocking: http://wakinguponturtleisland.blogspot.com/2009/04/bear-stone-rocking.html
While each of
these probable effigy stones is unique, the shape of the stone is almost always
suggestive of an animal or human – sometimes more or less triangular, sometimes
more or less round or oval. Sometimes, but not all the time, other facial features
can be observed, perhaps eyes, perhaps a mouth, perhaps a natural "found" stone, perhaps a humanly enhanced stone. The placement of the stone in a "wall" or a "mound" in a position to emphasize the resemblance to the animal or human-like being is probably very intentional and is more likely related to Indigenous Culture than to European methods of stone stacking, especially if the effigy can be found in Native Amarican Iconography in other artwork media. Sometimes, but not all the time, especially when the effigy is suspected to be a turtle, more stones can be found to represent (become) a shell and even legs:
Cover Photo for "Turtles" Album at Flickr:
Back at the end
of Winter 2015-16, I stopped to take some photos of a row of stones near Madison
CT. You can find the related post here:
Looking again at other
photos not included in the post, almost two years later,
I found a few good
examples of these sorts of effigy stones, some of which stood out that day, but also some that I failed to recognise that day.
Just one single
segment shows several possible intentional effigies, placed so that the stone recalls an image of some sort of faces, eyes upward and a mouth below:
White stones, colorful stones, unusual stones are all indicators of intent as well:
This eye and mouth may have been Humanly enhanced:
Change of perspective and this seems to be a turtle:
Perhaps a human face that I missed, composed of more than one stone:
A collection of "Faces in Stone:"
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