In the town of Foxboro, Massachusetts,
there is a region of approximately 1027 acres of undeveloped forestland
known as the Foxboro State Forest. For years, many people have used
the rugged trails in these woods for hiking, mountain biking, horseback
riding, and for simply viewing the unique characteristics of its scenic
New England landscape. However, off the beaten trails and away from
the old dirt roads, those that have "bush-whacked" their
way across this terrain have discovered many unique man-made stone
structures that clearly give evidence of cultures from another time
period. Cultures that predate the town's incorporation date of 1778
by possibly thousands of years. Guesses as to the origins of these
structures have ranged from the local Algonquin Indian culture, to
Celtic travelers predating Columbus, to even prehistoric tribal cultures
having a strong knowledge of solar and seasonal calendars.
The State forest area is one of the
highest points of land between Boston and Providence, and is currently
referred to by locals as High Rock. This "high place" characteristic,
combined with the types of stone structures
found in this forest, indicates that this region could very well have
been considered a "sacred place" in the past, and that it
was a regular destination for ceremonial purposes, spiritual cleansing
and prayer.
THE PURPOSE
OF THIS WEBSITE is to record and display data pertaining
to the unique stone structures in the Foxboro State Forest, so the
general public will be aware of their existence. This information
will allow others to visit, speculate and form personal conclusions
concerning who built
them, why they were built, and when they might have
been created. It is also a great hope that the information collected
here will spark an interest in the archeological community, resulting
in a true scientific study to determine their origins.
The most significant
section of this website is its Forest
Site Map. This page displays a Foxboro State Forest trail map
indicating all the recorded stone sites marked for viewing. When a
particular site is selected, a picture of the site is shown, along
with its physical description, location description, and GPS coordinate
reading.
WARNING:
All sites recorded on this website are located by GPS coordinates,
which indicates they may be visited. If you do decide to view these
sites in person, please treat them with the respect they deserve.
Do not replace or change the position of any of their stones. Do not
climb on them, or deface them in any way. Many of these structures
are very fragile and should not be touched at all. Please ... VISIT
AND ENJOY, BUT DO NOT DESTROY.
