Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: osage outlaw on February 13, 2018, 07:18:52 pm
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Does anyone know if native americans built stone walls? There are a couple of these short sections of stone walls on our property. This one has fell over. They are next to dry creek beds and around 20 yards long. The other wall is in the next valley over. I don't think they were used for keeping anything fenced in since it's only one straight line. I was wondering if they were used to control deer movement or even as a blind. I have found stone points in the creek bed a few yards away from it. I know this isn't a natural formation. I remember the wall being neatly stacked up when I was a kid. The other one has areas that are still standing.
(https://i.imgur.com/YGX5RwU.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/mZHOgLW.jpg)
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Low walls and "stone men" were used by the Inuit and Inupiak to direct the migrating caribou. Similar walls have been found at high elevation in Wyoming as well.
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That's kind of what I thought they were for. It's a good hunting spot. I have a stand right over top of it.
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In WV there are stone walls documented to have been made by early native folks. They are mostly on or near ridge tops near the Kanawha River. Here is a link to some info on it; http://www.stonestructures.org/html/mount-carbon.html
Is that an osage tree beside that wall?
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There are several such sites in Rocky Mountain National Park, I haven't seen them, sort of a rough hike to get there.
Hawkdancer
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The sheep eaters left these types of structures on century old sheep travel paths in the Rockies.
Yours could be used to funnel deer, elk or bison and would have lasted for thousands of years.
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In WV there are stone walls documented to have been made by early native folks. They are mostly on or near ridge tops near the Kanawha River. Here is a link to some info on it; http://www.stonestructures.org/html/mount-carbon.html
Is that an osage tree beside that wall?
No, that tree growing right next to it isn't an osage. I have my tree stand in a gnarly osage a few feet away from it though.
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Cool that you've got that on your place, Clint. Must make it fun to hunt with that in mind.
I've come across structures like that over the years and growing up in different spots. I lived on top of a ridge line in NJ for a few years in high school and would wander the woods finding structures like that. Washington's army wintered there during the Revolution...I figured they were related to that. Now you've got me wondering...
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I would think more for the military. Was there any military action in your area? If you have a metal detector I would detect that area good. You may be surprised what you might come up with and it may answer your question.
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not sure where you are at, but is that a virgin forest or is there a chance the land has been cleared for ag in the past few hundred years?
if thy were stacked up when you were a kid, they might not be that old
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Early flood control perhaps? Or, maybe they dug that limestone out of a section in order to deepen pools to gather more usable water.
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Depending on how long the property has been in your family talking to your father or grand father might shed some light on that.I suspect it was made within the last 100 years.Speaking with someone that knows the history of your area could help too.Maybe even neighbors.
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I'd be interested in Jeb's theory. Maybe civil war winter camp? Just a wild guess though. Might want to do more investigating.
Bjrogg
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Metal detector time.
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We have them here in western new york, some of them are quite long.
I always thought they were farm boundaries from the old homestesders.
I always found them in second growth forests.
Kevin
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We have them here in western new york, some of them are quite long.
I always thought they were farm boundaries from the old homestesders.
I always found them in second growth forests.
Kevin
+1
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I don't know if we had any civil war battles here in S.E. Indiana. I haven't heard of any. The walls aren't near any property lines. They are at the bottom of a hillside. There is zero chance of it being flood control. The creek is dry unless it rains and then it's just a trickle of water flowing through it. The wall would probably still be standing if I hadn't of messed with it when I was a kid :-[ The rocks are from the creek bed next to it. This spring I'd like to build a small dam across the creek. I'd like to make a small watering hole for the deer. It would be a 10 yard shot from my stand.
The first doe I killed with a recurve this past deer season was standing a few feet from the wall when I shot her. She jumped it after the shot.
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That creek may have roared at one time. What it does now doesn't mean much. We have a river that flows by about 5 miles south of the house. It used to float paddle wheelers not all that long ago, now its just barely deep enough to run a flat bottom.
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Whatever the reason I'm sure there is one. Nobody piles stones for the fun of it
Bjrogg
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That creek may have roared at one time. What it does now doesn't mean much. We have a river that flows by about 5 miles south of the house. It used to float paddle wheelers not all that long ago, now its just barely deep enough to run a flat bottom.
Trust me, it's not flood control. This spot is maybe 150 yards from the top of the hillside where the valley starts. It's just a run off for the rain. Our property is on the high ground. I'll show you next December ;)
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farmers cleared rocks from the field to improve the land. often they were piled at the along the edge of the field, which was often the property line, or may have become a new property line if the land was subdivided.
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farmers cleared rocks from the field to improve the land. often they were piled at the along the edge of the field, which was often the property line, or may have become a new property line if the land was subdivided.
This is not anywhere near a field. Plus I doubt the farmers would have neatly stacked the rocks they cleared.
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This is not anywhere near a field.
I am guessing it was at one time, it does look like second growth. you could do a title search or find a something at the library about local history. A lot of small farms have been abandoned in the last 100 years.
Plus I doubt the farmers would have neatly stacked the rocks they cleared.
why do you doubt that? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fieldstone
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This is not anywhere near a field.
I am guessing it was at one time, it does look like second growth. you could do a title search or find a something at the library about local history. A lot of small farms have been abandoned in the last 100 years.
It's at the bottom of steep hillsides. Unless farmers liked growing crops on 45 degree slopes It's not from a field. The tops of the hills are flat fields. There are no rock piles around them.
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down in a creek bottom? maybe something left behind by moonshiners?
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Shine??? -C-
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No clue on that history. There's not enough water flowing to think that's a possible shine spot. The creek is dry unless it's raining. I don't know why they would build a wall like that for a still.
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Protect the high ground? Let me know when you figure it out Clint. A good ambush spot is a good hunting spot.
Bjrogg
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I don't see why your initial thought isn't as likely as any other, Clint. From what you are describing it sounds rational.
If I had that on my property I'd be all over restacking it and making that watering hole. Enjoy it, right?! :)
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I wonder if there was forest in your neck of the woods back when the glaciers receded?
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/ancient-caribou-hunt-artifacts-preserved-deep-in-lake-huron-1.2624727
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Is it possible the creeks have moved and that they were originally dams?If not that then they were probably built by the Knights Templar on their way to Oak Island ;D ;D
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aliens...
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Damn, I was thinking the same thing! HAAAHAA
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It's probably the money pit Clint. Have to start boring test holes.
Bjrogg
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I know a Driller. 8)
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Squatches :P ! Bob
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It looks like second growth forest so it's reasonable to think the rocks were piled when the land was cleared.
Native Americans would burn the prairie grasses but I don't think I ever heard of them clearing whole forests.
Kevin
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Could it be from revolutionary times?
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could you post some pics of those points? might help to date the site