[MassHistPres] Carved [survey?] stones found in Central Mass

[Michele P. Barker]

Have you looked at deeds for the property/properties on which the stones
sit? Maybe there's a reference to the stones there that might shed some
light on the mystery. 

 

Best,

 

Michele

 

Michele P. Barker

 

Circuit Rider

617-999-3256

mpbarker at preservationmass.org

Preservation Massachusetts

www.preservationmass.org

The Massachusetts Circuit Rider Program is a partnership of Preservation
Massachusetts and the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Northeast
Office.

National Trust for Historic Preservation

www.preservationnation.org

 

From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu
[mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of Cupfish Cupfish
Sent: Friday, November 28, 2008 9:02 PM
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Cc: lkdougan at msn.com
Subject: [MassHistPres] Carved [survey?] stones found in Central Mass

 

In Oakham, our town Hist. Comm. folks are evaluating a series of about a
dozen carved stones set alongside a side road.  The stones are numbered 22
through 36, natural uncut granite, approximately 10" across, 4" deep, with
9" showing above ground level.  Each stone is securely sunk in the ground,
and has an auger hole drilled about 1/2" down in the top of the marker.  The
letters are about 5" high, not cut in deep relief all facing the road.
There are a couple numbers in the sequence missing, but it is clearly a
grouping of markers.

 

There is another marker far down the road from the cluster numbered 22 thru
36; we think it is a very low number but it's behind a fenceline.

 

The spacing between the markers is typically one chain.  A chain is a
surveyor's measuring unit where 1 chain = 66', or 10 rods.  FYI a 10 chain x
10 chain area is one acre; this measuring system (Gunter's I think?)
originated in England.  A couple of the markers are spaced more than one
chain apart.

 

The markers do not necessarily follow the course of the stone walls; in one
place the stone wall is built over the marker.  The markers very well may
predate the stone walls; they may even predate the road, but that's
debatable.

 

There is more information to share, but I don't want to overpost.  

 

1) Has anyone seen markers that appear to define a land boundary, not a mile
marker or distance measurement?

2) 2 photos are attached -- hope that's okay to do. The files are kind of
big, I think.

3) Why go to all this trouble in a small, specific location in an
always-rural corner of a tiny town?

4) What archeological resources are available to help understand the
markers?

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