America's Stonehenge: A Walk Through The Ruins

On a beautifully forested hilltop in North Salem, New Hampshire, exists a 4,000 year old unresolved mystery. Once called Mystery Hill, this timeless hilltop has definitely earned its nickname. Now this prehistoric puzzle goes by the official name of America's Stonehenge yet remains an ongoing enigma.

America's Stonehenge is a magnet of myth and mystery. Numerous cultures have inhabited this sacred site, which is possibly the oldest in North America. It's very existence seems to disprove the popular theory that Christopher Columbus was the first to discover North America (as if the natives hadn't discovered it already). The original architects are thought to have come from overseas, and research and artifacts point towards Phoenician origins.

Whatever strange rituals these ancient travelers brought with them manifested in the construction of a calendar-based site complete with monoliths marking stellar, lunar, and solar events as well as a series of stone chambers made without the use of metal tools. The calendar marks numerous sunrises and sunsets on the specific days of ancient holidays and seasonal changes. These monoliths are built into a series of stone walls that run through and around the entire site. 

At the center of this circle lies the most controversial object on the site.. a 4 1/2-ton, bell-shaped sacrificial altar, complete with a rectangular blood-groove which runs around the perimeter of the table, about the size of a man. This blood groove is complete with a run-off groove. The bedrock directly beneath this run-off groove has been notched out, possibly for some kind of receptacle. The table is supported by stone pillars, at a height of about 4 feet. Beneath this stone altar is a speaking tube which connects to the "oracle chamber," a large man-made cave directly behind this ritual centerpiece.

The question still remains: Who or what was sacrificed at this ancient temple? No one knows for sure. Other theories exist, pointing to other possible uses for the stone table including a wine press, fish-cleaning table, etc. but to me, anyway, it seems likely that the name sacrificial table is quite fitting indeed.

At the time of the construction of America's Stonehenge, human sacrifice was a common world-wide practice. Carvings of the ancient Canaanite god Baal have been found at the site, along with more recent carvings from the Celts. 

Whatever strange rituals happened there are forever lost in the unwritten pages of time. Still, to this day, the site has an ancient aura surrounding it. Some say this is due to some very real geological forces, involving the fault line which bisects the entire site, releasing electromagnetic fields in the immediate area. Some researchers suggest these fields can have a strange effect on the human mind. Of course, this is still unproven here, although it is known that many ancient cultures did build sacred sites on fault lines. 

Regardless, my personal experience there while strolling through the ruins is a feeling of some ancient presence. What unknown gods or spirits still lurk here? No one can really know. One thing is known however.. the original architects left the site in a hurry, never to return. All that remains are shattered fragments of a dark and distant past.

Other cultures have since inhabited this hilltop, including Native Americans and the Pattee Family. Jonathan Pattee, himself, was a source of rumors including that of being an Abolitionist who gave safe refuge to escaped slaves in his many stone chambers. The Pattees built a house on the ancient site, but this was rumored to have burned to the ground.. possibly due to a dispute over ownership. The location of Jonathan Pattee's grave remains a mystery as well, although his relatives' graves can be found in nearby cemeteries.

Many have come to America's Stonehenge in search of answers, including scientists, archeologists, astronomers, geologists, students, religionists, writers, and others.. so many mysteries for so many different people. 

In the 1920's, horror writer H.P. Lovecraft even made a visit to Mystery Hill, after which he wrote the short story The Dunwich Horror, which was based on the ancient site. It is rumored that Marquis de Lafayette visited the ancient ruins in 1825 while touring in Massachusetts and New Hampshire as well.

Unfortunately in the 1840's much of the site was taken away by quarry men for the construction of the nearby Lawrence Dam. It is said 10-40% of the stones were removed. A few years later, in the 1860's, another 10-50% of the stones were removed by yet another group of quarry men.

In the 1930's the site was identified as stop for the underground railroad, and certain artifacts have been found on the property to support this idea. During the 1930's and 1940's America's Stonehenge (Mystery Hill) was the focus on several magazine and newspaper articles regarding it's mysteries and theories regarding it's possible origins. These included theories of Irish Monks, Norsemen, and even robbers using the site as a hideout.

From the 1950's to present there has been extensive study and research performed on the site. Much has been learned, but still the puzzle is lacking many pieces. Ongoing scientific work has been done there including excavation, radio carbon dating, astronomy, and much more. Although it is known how old the site is, it is unknown as to why the original builders abandoned it so suddenly and completely.

America's Stonehenge has been the focus of numerous stories, rumors, books, articles, photographs, and research projects over the years. Some say the site and local geography is haunted. I think there is definitely something there watching over this site, which has survived for thousands of years and still stands today, if only in ruins and decay.

Note: This essay was previously published by the author elsewhere and has been modified and rewritten to be up to speed with the current times.

Resources used for this article:

America's Stonehenge: An Interpretive Guide by Joanne Dondero Lambert and Joseph Lambert - Copyright 1996 Sunrise Publications

America's Stonehenge by David Goudsward with Robert E. Stone and forward by Malcolm Pearson - Copyright 2003 Branden Books

The Mystery Hill Source Book 1907-1945 Edited by Richard V. Humphrey Teaparty Books Copyright 1979

America’s Stonehenge Time-Line, Events and Land use at Mystery Hill W.E.J. Hinton Jr. Copyright 1988

America's Stonehenge Timeline by Erik Ferguson © 2004 oldnh.com

Personally orchestrated field work at America's Stonehenge and the America's Stonehenge visitor center by Erik Ferguson.

Copyright © 2005 - 2008 Erik Ferguson