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

[Sam Bird]

I'm not sure what these are but it would seem the intent was to make  
them accurate markers as the drill hole in the top of each would be  
the precise measure point. The one's that are spaced more than a  
chain apart - is that a lot more, or could the difference be due to  
frost heaving or some other movement? I wonder what happened to 1  
through 21?

Sam Bird AIA

On Nov 28, 2008, at 9:02 PM, Cupfish Cupfish wrote:

> 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?
> <marker34.jpg>
> <marker33.jpg>
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