News: Turtle Stone inquiries from different parts of Salem

In this month of August, an architect and historian, John Goff publishes an article on the presence of Native American Stones including Turtle Stones in other parts of Salem!
Salem Gazette, John Goff: Salem's natural petroglyphs, August 18, 2011.
http://www.wickedlocal.com/salem/news/lifestyle/columnists/x386667459/John-Goff-Salem-s-natural-petroglyphs#axzz1VkzSa1nb


A reference in this news article, relates to an earlier article written by Mr. Goff in December of 2010, with further information on Native American Turtles and Stone Turtle sightings in Salem.  (www.wickedlocal.com/salem/news/lifestyle/columnists/x2068978333/John-Goff-Tutored-by-turtles#axzz1VlXADl8X)


Here also, in Spring Pond Woods, I have come across what possibility resembles several Native American Turtle Stones. See photos here: www.springpondwoods.com/2011/07/turtle-stones.html?utm_source=BP_recent

The questions and claims from different sites arise, on early Native American remnants in Salem and surrounding regions.

Turtle stones

Back in September of 2010, a researcher of Native American culture contacted me and shared an interesting aspect of tribal history.  He said the mystical symbolism of native art and story is partially representing a philosophy of life which derived from the turtle.  He asked if any of the stones here I came across resemble a turtle.  Since this inquiry, the thought and forms of turtles appear each time when passing a new site.  Maybe these stones are marvelous pieces of man-made art (a combination of natural glacial boulders, with added human touch), or maybe these are magentising natural forms of art?

There are 2 of these stone formations, in direct alignment.

This stone is in alignment with the one above.

There is a small flat stone placed on the bottom right side, hidden within the ground cover, which appears like a turtle's head.

This stone is not far from the other two, in a pool of water.

A stone appears in solid form.

The appearing geometrical face on this stone, is symmetrical on both sides.

There are several other boulders with smaller stones beneath, not shown.

Here are some interesting links on the Native American Turtle.
. www.turtletanks.org/native-american-turtle.html
. nativeamericanjewelrytips.wordpress.com/2010/10/11/native-american-symbols-turtle-and-tortoise/
. www.fema.gov/kids/turtle.htm


It has been said by many, these woods in the past were pillaged and filtered by visitors who collected an arrow each year while at camp, and there was an active archeological dig from a large and popular local museum, where artifacts were collected.  One cultural commissioner shared, that there is a book in this museum, which talks about a settlement at Spring Pond.  The museum today is not responding to requests, to see a list of the inventory collected from these woods.  Back in May of 2010, I was told by someone in the state of Massachusetts to "stop (my) research"...perhaps because Massachusetts treats Native American sites like Area-51, to prevent looting?  But the site from what I understand has already been looted, and if the people do not know about Native American sites, how can we stand to protect them?  Discouraged by the state, I contacted the Department of Interior, National Park Service on Native American culture, sharing photos of other, more obvious stones... and then a man phoned from the department to encourage me to continue the battle to protect this site.  And so the battle continues.


peace on

"archeologically sensitive"

Remember all the 'crazy' talk here of the site being a 'potential' Native American ground?

Although there have been no previous records with the State (...actually I don't know this), discoveries can be found at any time. 

Here is a letter from a Senior Archeologist, at the Massachusetts Historical Commission, written in 2008, stating: "portions of the property may be archeologically sensitive".   

Please Camp Lion and City of Salem (property owners), call for an archeological dig to investigate, and apply for cultural grants in preserving this land.

                          

Click on image to view...

peace on 

                                                                                                                                    ~ Katerina

Lo, the friendly Native American

Here is the story of Lo the friendly Native American who was slain at Spring Pond on the Lynn/ Salem border.  Click to view, and then again to zoom in...

Reference:  The Register of the Lynn Historical Society, For the Year 1911, p. 110

peace

Native American Deeds for Salem (Including Peabody)

The original Indian Deeds for Salem's land, can be downloaded from here, or a copy of transcriptions can be viewed below.   http://www.salemdeeds.com/nativeamericandeeds/deeds_toc.aspx

Researchers' have a clearer understanding of the land deed intent  between the Native Americans and early colonists. Understanding Native Americans philosophy, where as they did not believe in land ownership but rather thought of giving 'rights' of the land to the goods it produces in a season. The European colonists on the other had, as we understand, interpret a land deed to mean 'land ownership'.  The Indians were not materialistic and returned to different lands by season to plant or hunt on, and this was their right.

The Natives gave 'rights' to the land, but a question remains - what kind of rights? Perhaps it is clearer now why natives gave 'rights' away for little value and to different people for the same land... not by deceit, but by the reasoning of giving 'ownership' to seasonal goods the land produced.  This gives a renewed meaning to the term "Indian Giver", which has gone misunderstood for decades.

 This research of the Indian Deed is not meant to debate legal matters, but to raise awareness in archeological findings...  Land trade became a struggle by one party to keep a “sustainable“ land versus another party to create an “economic commodity” called land. (sound familiar :)   

All of our Essex County townships have signs of early Native American heritage, by what is enjoyed, of what Mother Nature still brings. The beauties of our heritage landscapes with changing seasons continue to run rivers, streams, pools of ponds, in bloom of Spring, under changes in the Moon, and magnificent views, on elevated grounds and fields of wild berries, encountering migrating wildlife, in lifes own habitat. Children and others hike along these trails today, which by no untruth, was once the pathways of Native American culture.

Click to view transcribed Salem Deeds...

Source: English vs. Native American Views

Shalom (Peace)

Council Chamber

Pow wow! 

Where is this?  

Clipping from the Daily Item, February 1951

email:  peace@springpondwoods.com

Opulent History: Early years of Naumkeag Native Americans

Beginning with a series of this land's opulent history, here are maps of the ancient Nawmkeag Native American Territory.

A map drawn by Alonzo Lewis shows Naumkeag territory on the northern borders of old Lynn (with my highlights in color).  A red X marks the site of Camp Lion where there is an immediate threat to these woods by proposed development.  

Keep an eye on the borders between Lynn and Salem and then Peabody on different old maps.  The borders later changed c.1793, when Spring Pond was divided by three cities, so that the Spring would "slake the thirst" of travelers.

^{Also notice below the borderlines is a cluster of pointy hills or pines.  Both may of been the case.  A woman today who lives on one of the hills noticed a line of tall pines heading from east to west.  Some of the trees maybe cut today but a few are remaining.  Something to wonder.}

Another thing to wonder is, how did early colonial settlers in the mid 1600's (just after the settlement of the Natives) know that the Springs at Spring Pond were healing waters?

Here is a map of Indian Lands and Localities in Essex County, Massachusetts, shown under an overlay of current city boundaries.   The Naumkeag Native American tribe is shown within the borders of current day Salem.  Click on map to enlarge. This map was found on the Native American Deeds website here.

A Spring Pond resident has shared info that their son found 2 arrows in the woods.  This area could indeed be rich with Native American history to uncover.  Natives utilized elevated sites like Camp Lion, for hunting camps.  There is also indication through court documents on March 7, 1676, that a friendly Indian was slain here while camping near Spring Pond on the border.

We are hoping to find more evidence and archeological findings, to help protect the land. If anyone has interest in helping conduct research please contact peace@springpondwoods.com

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