A Possible Serpent-Form with a Boulder head, in a stone row near the top of Sawyer Hill, north of Gates Pond in Berlin, Massachusetts. Photo by Mike Luoma.
The Central Stone Row
One massive stone row rises out of the wetland ditches, separates from the others and, after a gateway-like break near the wetlands, heads in a fairly straight north/south direction northward up and over the northernmost of the Sawyer Hill(s).
North side of the Stone Row’s “Gateway” as it rises out of the wetlands north of Gates Pond in Berlin, Massachusetts. Photo by Mike Luoma.
The Gateway’s south side, near the wetlands north of Gates Pond in Berlin, Massachusetts. Photo by Mike Luoma.
As the central stone row rises up and over the hill, several large boulders are incorporated into it, as well as prominent protrusions and outcrops of bedrock.
Non-linear, curving coursework and surrounded stones in the stone row as it rises with the hill north of Gates Pond in Berlin, Massachusetts. Photos by Mike Luoma.
Two other stone rows branch off it to run west, each with a short tag of a row to the east at the intersection with the bigger row.
Another Stone Row Wends Off to the West, next to the Central Row north of Gates Pond in Berlin, Massachusetts. Photo by Mike Luoma.
As the Central Stone Row Rises, the Stones in the Row Grow Larger (note the boulder in the background on the eastern side) on Sawyer Hill, north of Gates Pond in Berlin, Massachusetts. Photo by Mike Luoma.
This stone row shows off possible effigy work as it rises. This work becomes quite evident on the hilltop itself, where the stone row displays serpentine features and incorporates boulders as snake-like “heads” among the stone “scales”.
The Design of the Stone Row Grows More Intriguing As It Rises Over This Ledge and Heads for the Hilltop north of Gates Pond in Berlin, Massachusetts. Photo by Mike Luoma.
Another Look at the Possible Serpent Head, just over the crest of the hill north of Gates Pond in Berlin, Massachusetts. Photo by Mike Luoma.
Past the Boulder, the Stone Row’s Design Continues to Incorporate Possible Effigy Motifs as it descends down the northern slope of Sawyer Hill, north of Gates Pond in Berlin, Massachusetts. Photo by Mike Luoma.
Wending Downhill — Though Ostensibly A Straight, North/South Stone Row, it Does Zig-Zag in spots and curve up and over Boulders as it descends the north slope of Sawyer Hill, north of Gates Pond in Berlin, Massachusetts. Photo by Mike Luoma.
The Zig-Zag of the Stone Row is Evident When Looking Up from lower on the north slope of Sawyer Hill, north of Gates Pond in Berlin, Massachusetts. Photo by Mike Luoma.
There are several possible Manitou Stones set sideways along the stone row, as well as possible fin- or wing-shaped stones, possibly indicative of Great Serpent stone row effigy work.
A Possible Fin- or Wing-Shaped Stone, on the Stone Row’s Western Side. On Sawyer Hill north of Gates Pond in Berlin, Massachusetts. Photo by Mike Luoma.
There are times this stone row seems somewhat ordinary; other times, it’s extraordinary. Given the shorter, serpentine stone rows we find in the wetlands and a little lower on the northwestern hilltop, it’s likely parts of this long, central stone row were adapted from Indigenous work by the settlers here. Perhaps the Sawyers themselves “repaired” or turned separate Serpent Stone Rows into a property marker.
Several Niches Appear in the Stone Row as the Northern Slope of the Hill Levels Out for a Time. Unfortunately, Orange Flags and Spray Paint Suggest This Area May Soon Be Disrupted. On Sawyer Hill north of Gates Pond in Berlin, Massachusetts. Photos by Mike Luoma.
The stone row does seem to serve as a dividing line, of sorts, especially on top of the hill. Although there are interesting possible remnants of stonework all over the high spot, the area to the east of the stone row seems to have been more cultivated, leaving less behind.
An Intriguing Looking Stone Row Atop Sawyer Hill, north of Gates Pond in Berlin, Massachusetts. Photo by Mike Luoma.
Another View of this Odd Part of the Stone Row, as it Rises Over a Boulder on Sawyer Hill, north of Gates Pond in Berlin, Massachusetts. Photo by Mike Luoma.
Atop the hill, several boulders dot the central section on the eastern side, while on the western side we find larger boulders and more ornate groupings of stones, with more boulders left in place.
Two of the Many Boulders Along the Stone Row Atop Sawyer Hill, north of Gates Pond in Berlin, Massachusetts. Photo by Mike Luoma.
Some of the boulders and outcrops on the western side have stones placed atop them, but these are not likely clearing piles, as this side of the hill does not appear to have been cleared of stones, and so are quite possibly Manitou Hassanash - Spirit Stones. We’ll look at the hilltop boulders in the next installment.
