New Discovery in Vermont
A Possible Serpent Effigy Found Near Essex's Indian Brook Reservoir
A Serpent Effigy in the Vermont Woods
Hope you’re enjoying the series on the area around Kequasagansett — Gates Pond — in Massachusetts. There’s more to share . I’m working on the next installment, which you will be seeing soon. The space atop the northernmost hill there is something else!
Even as I continue to analyze what I found around Gates Pond and do some deep dives into its history, my explorations continue elsewhere.
Earlier this week, I returned to a spot in northern Vermont I’d partially explored back in the Spring, Indian Brook Reservoir Park in Essex, and made new discoveries.
Although still called a reservoir, like Gates Pond, Indian Brook Reservoir was abandoned for other water sources, the town of Essex Junction switching away from its waters in 1973. Making a complex tale short and simple, the reservoir and surrounding lands switched hands a couple of times after that before the Town of Essex and friends bought it in 1986 to eventually create the park as it is today.
Back in April, I’d found likely stone effigy rows and even possible large-scale, Great Serpent stone work on the ridges on the eastern and northeastern sides of the reservoir.
Returning last weekend to explore parts of the park I’d missed in the Spring, I found more stone effigy rows on the western side. And to the north, discovered what may possibly be a remarkable stone row Serpent Effigy with a large boulder for its head.
This is pretty exciting, as finds go! Already inspired me to make my YouTube Video:
Thought I’d share my excitement with you , too, and give you an early look at this brand-new, though possibly ancient, discovery.
A boulder at the head of a spring initially drew my attention. Seemed unusual, a boulder marking a spring. It also struck me, with the stones on its sides, it kind of looked like a frog.
Wasn’t looking at the spring long when the stone row next to it grabbed my attention.
It hadn’t looked all that interesting from the trail. But, then again, I couldn’t really see that it led up to a huge boulder from the trail.
But it did.
A boulder shaped like the head of a serpent. And turned at an angle.
With the stone row zig-zagging up to it — and onto it. Curving with it, to make it look like the turning head of a great snake.
Many of these attributes are indicative of this being an actual effigy work.
The stone row continues on downhill after the boulder, almost down to the waters edge, along the brook from the spring next to it.
The stone row runs roughly north / south.
The angle of the head is interesting, and could be oriented to a couple of stellar alignments. As a rather large boulder, it’s hard to tell for sure. It may be pointing towards the Exit to the Under World at about 235 Degrees Southwest, or it could be pointing towards the Winter Solstice Sunset at about 253 Degrees West-Southwest.
This is just speculation based on the angle of the head, at this point.
Although it’s just downhill from an old foundation, and not far from an old road, this possible serpent effigy’s location seems to have protected it, somehow, sitting next to this wetland spring, its stone row perhaps adapted by later settlers to mark off a meadow. And it’s not too visible from the trail.
I’ve just begun to share this feature to get feedback from other investigators. I believe this certainly bears more looking into after this initial discovery. There will likely be future updates to come. Thank you for taking a look!
