Rock Piles and Field Clearing Practices on Historic Farms and Pastures in Northeastern United States

Rock Piles and Field Clearing Practices on Historic Farms and Pastures in Northeastern United States PDF Author: James E. Gage
Publisher: Powwow River Books
ISBN: 1733805737
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 162

Get Book Here

Book Description
It is hard to imagine that the most controversial subject in 21st century northeastern archaeology concerns rock piles found on historic farm lands. Yet, rock piles are at the heart of a contentious debate about their cultural affiliation, purpose, and age. Are they agricultural field clearing piles or Indigenous ceremonial features? The short answer is some are the byproduct agricultural activities while others were intentionally built as an expression of Indigenous spiritual beliefs. How do we distinguish between the two? In order to answer that question, it is necessary to have a solid historical and scientific understanding of field clearing practices in northeastern United States. Using farm manuals and 19th century agricultural journals, this book delves into the surprisingly complex topic of stone removal and disposal practices on farms in northeastern United States and beyond. It establishes some basic criteria for identifying clearing piles. Groups of Indigenous stone features including rock piles / cairns have survived on unfarmed lands and old pastures. They have largely been misidentified as field clearing piles and attributed to efforts to improve soil quality. However, new research shows that permanent pastures were rarely, if ever, cleared of stones. 19th century farmers had a solid understanding of why their pastures were being degraded and the solutions they needed to fix them. None of those solutions involved stone removal. This book draws together in a single volume over a decade of intensive research into an obscure but critically important topic in historic archaeology. Agricultural field clearing features are not considered archaeological significant. Ceremonial landscapes (traditional cultural properties) are considered culturally sensitive sites. Distinguishing between the two is an important task.

Rock Piles and Field Clearing Practices on Historic Farms and Pastures in Northeastern United States

Rock Piles and Field Clearing Practices on Historic Farms and Pastures in Northeastern United States PDF Author: James E. Gage
Publisher: Powwow River Books
ISBN: 1733805737
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 162

Get Book Here

Book Description
It is hard to imagine that the most controversial subject in 21st century northeastern archaeology concerns rock piles found on historic farm lands. Yet, rock piles are at the heart of a contentious debate about their cultural affiliation, purpose, and age. Are they agricultural field clearing piles or Indigenous ceremonial features? The short answer is some are the byproduct agricultural activities while others were intentionally built as an expression of Indigenous spiritual beliefs. How do we distinguish between the two? In order to answer that question, it is necessary to have a solid historical and scientific understanding of field clearing practices in northeastern United States. Using farm manuals and 19th century agricultural journals, this book delves into the surprisingly complex topic of stone removal and disposal practices on farms in northeastern United States and beyond. It establishes some basic criteria for identifying clearing piles. Groups of Indigenous stone features including rock piles / cairns have survived on unfarmed lands and old pastures. They have largely been misidentified as field clearing piles and attributed to efforts to improve soil quality. However, new research shows that permanent pastures were rarely, if ever, cleared of stones. 19th century farmers had a solid understanding of why their pastures were being degraded and the solutions they needed to fix them. None of those solutions involved stone removal. This book draws together in a single volume over a decade of intensive research into an obscure but critically important topic in historic archaeology. Agricultural field clearing features are not considered archaeological significant. Ceremonial landscapes (traditional cultural properties) are considered culturally sensitive sites. Distinguishing between the two is an important task.

Our Hidden Landscapes

Our Hidden Landscapes PDF Author: Lucianne Lavin
Publisher: University of Arizona Press
ISBN: 0816550875
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 385

Get Book Here

Book Description
"The aim of this book is to introduces readers to the historic Indigenous ceremonial stone landscapes that dot the woodlands of Eastern North America, that they may be able to identify these ritual landscapes and thus help protect and preserve them for future generations"--

The Art of Splitting Stone

The Art of Splitting Stone PDF Author: Mary Elaine Gage
Publisher: Powwow River Books
ISBN: 0971791023
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 95

Get Book Here

Book Description


Country Gentleman, the Magazine of Better Farming

Country Gentleman, the Magazine of Better Farming PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Agriculture
Languages : en
Pages : 828

Get Book Here

Book Description


Root Cellars in America: Their History, Design and Construction 1609-1920

Root Cellars in America: Their History, Design and Construction 1609-1920 PDF Author: James E. Gage
Publisher: Powwow River Books
ISBN: 0981614167
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 158

Get Book Here

Book Description
For most people, the term “root cellar” evokes an image of a brick or stone masonry subterranean structure tunneled into a hillside. These classic root cellars are only one of a number of different types of structures used to preserve root crops, vegetables and fruits over the past 400 years. The other structures include subfloor pits, cooling pits, house cellars, barn cellars, field root pits & trenches, and root houses. Root Cellars in America provides a history of all the structures, discusses their design principles, and details how they were constructed. The text is accompanied by period illustrations from the agricultural literature along with archaeological photographs.

Wildlife Management in North Carolina

Wildlife Management in North Carolina PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Wildlife conservation
Languages : en
Pages : 664

Get Book Here

Book Description


The Country Gentleman

The Country Gentleman PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Agriculture
Languages : en
Pages : 1068

Get Book Here

Book Description


California. Eastern Fresno Area

California. Eastern Fresno Area PDF Author: United States. Soil Conservation Service
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 460

Get Book Here

Book Description


Soil Survey

Soil Survey PDF Author: United States. Soil Conservation Service
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Soil surveys
Languages : en
Pages : 448

Get Book Here

Book Description


A Guide to New England Stone Structures

A Guide to New England Stone Structures PDF Author: Mary E. Gage
Publisher: Powwow River Books
ISBN: 0981614183
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 61

Get Book Here

Book Description
A Guide to New England Stone Structures is a basic field guide to identifying the many different types of stone structures found while hiking through the forest and conservation lands in New England.