The origin of the megalithic monument called Mystery Hill, also known as American Stonehenge, is exciting and controversial among scientists.
This site in North Salem, New Hampshire is a cluster of monoliths and stone structures scattered over an area of approximately 120 square meters. m. From the point of view of some scientists, the boulders have an astronomical orientation. In the center of the complex, there is a 4.5-ton boulder, which probably served as a sacrificial altar. Grooves are hollowed out on it, presumably for drainage of the victim's blood.
It is hypothesized that American Stonehenge may have been built by European settlers in 2000 BC. e. - thousands of years before the first documented arrival of the Vikings in North America. The archaeologists were divided. Some believe that there is too little evidence to support this theory. There are also those who argue that this place is not that ancient.
There are several similar archaeological sites from Maine to Connecticut, but Mystery Hill is the largest of all. Here's what different experts say.
Celts?
1. The symbols on the stones are similar to the ancient Irish language, but none of the inscriptions could be reliably deciphered.
2. In terms of astronomical orientation, megaliths mark the first days of the quarters. These dates were marked only by the Celts, says astronomer Alan Hill. Some have compared these megaliths to Stonehenge.
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3. "Radiocarbon analysis coincides with the dates of the mass migration of the Celts," says the book "American Stonehenge: A History of Mystery Hill from the Ice Age to the Stone Age," written by David Goodward and Robert Stone. Stone bought the site in the 1950s and opened it up for visits and research. Goodsward and Stone write: “The Celtiberians (a people from the Iberian Peninsula speaking the Celtic languages) had contact with the Carthaginians, who were advanced enough to cross the Atlantic Ocean. But there are no typical Celtic designs on the stones."
Indians?
1. Archaeologists have discovered in this place ancient Indian artifacts over 1000 years old.
2. The use of stone tools is typical of the Indians.
Celtic writing?
Ogamic writing is an ancient Irish script used in the 5th-6th centuries. and consisting of cross-strokes. The marks found on the stones are believed to be examples of Ogamic writing.
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Karen Wright, author of an article for Discovery magazine, written after visiting Mystery Hill, commented on the dubious transcripts: “Numerous authors have made their interpretations based on different languages from Ogamic to Russian. The most bizarre interpretation is the Iberian / Carthaginian translation of the three parallel grooves as "Dedicated to Baal on behalf of the Canaanites."
Determination of age by radiocarbon method
In 1969, archaeologist James Whittall discovered stone tools at the site that bore traces of charcoal, which made it possible to determine their age by radiocarbon dating. Dating has shown that the tools were created around 1000 BC. e., write Goodswart and Stone.
Whittall collected coal samples from various objects at the archaeological site, analysis showed that their age varied from 2000 BC. e. up to 400 BC e.
Determination of age by astronomical orientation
Astronomer Dr. Louis Winkler, one of the main scientists exploring the site, found that the position of some of the rocks coincided with the position of stars and other astronomical objects 2,000 years ago. He also carried out radiocarbon analysis and calculations using a laser theodolite to prove that the structures were created in the Bronze Age (2000-1500 BC).
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In turn, anthropologist Bob Goodby of the Archaeological Society of New Hampshire believes that astronomical orientation is a "coincidence."
“There are so many stones there that if you want to, it will not be difficult to find those that correspond to the location of the celestial bodies,” - said Goodby in an interview with Boston University Bridge magazine. This is not the only "coincidence" voiced by critics of the ancient European origin of structures, nor is it the only fact that proponents of this theory consider too suspicious to be a coincidence.
For example, critic Richard Boyswert, an archaeologist from New Hampshire, admitted that the structure is similar to ancient European megalithic structures, but he believes it is just a coincidence.
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Alan Hill, professor of astronomy at the New Hampshire Institute of Technology, thinks the astronomical orientation doesn't look like a coincidence. In an interview with the New York Times, he said that megaliths mark the early days of the quarters, the midpoints between the solstices and equinoxes. The Celts were the only ones to celebrate these days, he says. Hill disagrees with the theory that these structures are actually barns and were built just centuries ago because the openings are not wide enough for handcart.
David Brody, a local lawyer and mystery writer, told the New York Times that there are too many similar stone structures in the area to write off as mere coincidence.
Finishing with stone tools
In all likelihood, the builders used stone rather than metal tools. Boysworth's boss, New Hampshire's chief archaeologist, Gary Hum, told Discovery reporters that stone tooling was very similar to that of the Indians. He did not dare to say unequivocally that the age of the megaliths is 4000 years, but does not exclude such a possibility. He said he would not dispute "the statements of two respected scientists about astronomical orientation."
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The Indians and Celts are not the only supposed builders. Some believe that they could have been the Phoenicians, the inhabitants of the ancient kingdom on the Mediterranean coast. The arrangement of the stones matches the position of the star Tuban, the polarissima of the Phenician era, Wright says.
Shoemaker Jonathan Patti and his descendants lived on this site for almost the entire 19th century. Many argue that the structures were built by him and his relatives. Denis Stone, son of Robert Stone and the current owner of the site, told Discovery that individual structures were most likely built by Patti, but not all.
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Opponents of this hypothesis believe that the Patti family could not have created such complex structures with an astronomical orientation, moreover, they would have used metal tools, not stone ones.
Goodby and other critics of the theory of the ancient origin of the structure say that if the site was truly ancient, archaeologists would find traces of settlements and burials nearby. From his point of view, the "sacrificial stone" is actually a place for making soap, created by people in a relatively recent era.
However, it is a place worth exploring, as Goodsward and Stone point out: “There has been so much destruction over the last four millennia, so no matter which theory you hold, physical evidence alone is enough to warrant a detailed study. This place has given rise to many hypotheses, as vast as the ancient sky, which was or was not captured with the help of ancient monoliths."