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Offbeat New England: America's Stonehenge

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A Mystery of History in Salem, New Hampshire

Offbeat New England is a series of articles about some of the more strange but wonderful things to do and see in and around the six New England states. Some will be truly offbeat while others might just be a bit off the beaten path. This installment is about a fascinating site called America's Stonehenge in the small town of Salem, New Hampshire. The over 100-acre site, known for many decades by locals as Mystery Hill, contains many stone chambers and structures along with standing stones around the perimeter that line up with important astronomical events. The site was used by early settlers as well as the Native Americans that preceded them, but perhaps the most exciting feature of this site is the remarkable similarity it bears to other ancient sites in western Europe. Is it possible that ancient Europeans traveled here more than 4,000 years ago and constructed sites like this and others around New England?
America's Stonehenge Logo

Astronomical Alignments

An Ancient Astronomical Calendar

Photo Source: Satellite Imagery Oddities on Waymarking.comThe thing that is really astounding here is how the entire 100+ acre site acts as a giant astronomical observatory. Around the perimeter of this ancient site are standing stones that line up with various astronomical events such as solstices and equinoxes, as well as a true north alignment. But the thing that really clinches the origins of the site for me is the fact that some of these standing stones mark Cross Quarter Days. Those are days that mark the mid-point between a solstice and an equinox, and the only folks who ever marked and celebrated those were the ancient Celts! Radio carbon dating has put this site's construction at over 4,000 years ago. That's a looooong time before Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492. The image here is a satellite photo that shows the site lines to the stones (kept clear of trees) that line up with various astronomical events. I for one am a firm believer that this is a truly ancient site! By the way, the photo at the top of this page is a standing stone that marks a summer solstice alignment.

Inscriptions on Stones

Ancient Irish Language: Ogham

Inscription on Stone from America's StonehengeSome stones at America's Stonehenge have markings on them that are remarkably similar to Ogham, and ancient form of an old Irish language. The late Barry Fell (see his book in the Amazon section below), a Harvard University marine biologist and amateur epigrapher (a person that studies inscriptions on stones) argued persuasively for this connection. In fact, he even thought that besides ancient Celts there were Phoenicians, Basques and Egyptians coming to North America thousands of years ago!

The Oracle Chamber

This one is fascinating!

The Oracle ChamberOne of the most fascinating things to explore at America's Stonehenge are the various chambers and stone structures. When I visited, the one I thought was really neat and kind of spooky was the Oracle Chamber pictured here. Inside the chamber there is a secret niche that you can crawl into and be completely hidden but still watch everything that's going on outside the chamber at a large slab of stone called the "sacrificial table" (more on that later). Then there is also a speaking tube, which is a stone-lined tunnel whose exit is underneath the sacrificial table. When the hidden person speaks, it sounds as if the slab itself is speaking to folks standing there!

The Giant Slab

Whas it used for sacrifices?

The Sacrificial TableThis is a giant table whose main slab weighs in the vicinity of 4.5 tons. The disturbing thing about this table is that there is a gutter running around the edge which have lead some to believe it was used for sacrifices, meaning the gutter would control the flow of blood off the table. And then there's the speaking tube that can be used to make it seem as if the table itself is speaking. That's just downright creepy!

Read What Others Have Said

Find out what experts think about America's Stonehenge

New York Times logoA great article appeared in the New York Times several years back that contains comments from experts about America's Stonehenge. Check it out at http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/12/11/travel/escapes/11stonehenge.html?ref=travel

The article quotes both an astronomy professor as well as a local lawyer and novelist about particular features of America's Stonehenge that lead me to believe it really is an ancient site built by European peoples more than 4,000 years ago.

So What do YOU Think?

America's Stonehenge: Fact or Fiction?

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Finding America's Stonehenge

Just 35 minutes northwest of Boston!

Easy Driving Directions to America's Stonehenge

From the North (I-93)
Take I-93 exit 3. Follow Route 111 East for about 5 miles. Turn right at the traffic signal (a Gulf gas station should be to the left side at the intersection. In about a mile, look for the Amerca's Stonehenge entrance on the right.

From I-95 or NH Route 101
101 West to Exit 7 (labeled as Route 125 South) to Route 111W (not 111A). Stay on Route 111W for about 9 miles. Turn left at blinking light (Sunoco Gas on your left). Take this to the end and turn left onto Haverhill Road. Look for America's Stonehenge in half a mile, on the right.

From I-495
Take Exit 50 (Route 97) and follow Route 97 North. Turn right onto Hampstead Road. Continue about 4 miles. Hampstead Road becomes Shannon Road and then Haverhill Road. America's Stonehenge entrance will be on the left.

America's Stonehenge and Other New England Megalithic Sites

Available from Amazon now!

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  • JoshK47 Apr 14, 2012 @ 9:59 am | delete
    Fascinating read! Thanks for sharing! Blessed by a SquidAngel!
  • angelsigh Apr 7, 2012 @ 12:09 am | delete
    Very interesting! Great lens thank you
  • naheedahsan Feb 21, 2012 @ 9:39 pm | delete
    I've never heard of this place before, but sounds nice.......
  • tvyps Feb 21, 2012 @ 3:24 am | delete
    Interesting. I like this type of subject. I grew up in Southern Ohio and there was a place called "Serpent Mound".....if you get a chance, read up on it. Squid Angel blessed!
  • shermanmorrison Feb 21, 2012 @ 7:53 am | delete
    I've not been to the serpent mound, but I know about it! I was recently writing a short story for a fascinating puzzle box related to the ending of the Mayan calendar in 2012 and I managed to work the serpent mound into the story. Good stuff!
  • iijuan12 Feb 19, 2012 @ 10:23 pm | delete
    I've never heard of this place before, but I've only been in that area once. It sounds like a neat place to visit. Liked.
  • Sylvestermouse Feb 18, 2012 @ 3:45 pm | delete
    This does sound like a fun and fascinating trip. Must add this to my list of place to see!
  • MaryStuart Feb 18, 2012 @ 11:09 am | delete
    I've visited New Hampshire many times before but never Salem. Next time I visit, I will definitely check it out!
  • JoyfulPamela Feb 18, 2012 @ 9:18 am | delete
    I've never heard of this place before, but it sounds fascinating!
  • LiteraryMind Feb 16, 2012 @ 3:43 pm | delete
    I visted this site some years ago. It was very interesting. It's a nice way to spend the day at the very least.
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shermanmorrison

I am currently working my way through Antioch University's PhD in Leadership and Change, writing my doctoral dissertation on Sustainability in Higher... more »

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