Stone Chamber Tomb Once an "Indian Cave"?

Intriguing Stonework on a NEARA Field Trip in New Hampshire

A Family Receiving Tomb in the Deerfield, New Hampshire area. Not a permanent resting place, these were once used in Winter for temporary storage of corpses until the ground thawed and graves could be dug. This one is said to have been an “Indian Cave” before being converted into a Family Tomb. Photo by Mike Luoma.

On a Fall Sunday (11/3/24) NEARA Field Trip (part of the 2024 NEARA Fall Conference), New Hampshire State Coordinator Devon Toland led the way to this Family Receiving Tomb on private land in the Deerfield, New Hampshire area. He’d tracked down the location of this stone chamber based on old references and the recollections of locals, and secured permission from the current owners of the land to visit.

Receiving Tomb near Deerfield, NH. Photo by Mike Luoma.

A Closer Look at the Stonework in front. Photos by Mike Luoma.

This was a bonus… Most of those going on that Sunday’s NEARA Field Trips opted for a different trip entirely, a Stone Chamber Tour. This stone chamber wasn’t part of Devon’s original plans, but when I was the only one who joined him for his Sunday Field Trip he was able to add it in as a side-trip! Thanks, again, to Devon, for the tour and for going through with the Field Trip with only one attendee.

Inside the Stone Chamber with NEARA’s Devon Toland. Photo by Mike Luoma.

The construction style of this Stone Chamber and the many plug-and-feather split marks in the stones indicates that it’s likely 18-19th century western work. Devon's research, however, uncovered a local tradition that the later Tomb had been built out of what was originally an "Indian Cave" - an interesting wrinkle in its origin story.

Inside the Tomb - Rear Right Corner. Photo by Mike Luoma.

Devon pointed out gaps in the more modern stonework behind which one can spy irregular shaped, perhaps older, stonework, including up above beyond the rectangular ceiling stones.

The lower, squared-off ceiling stones do not appear to be load-bearing — some even appear to be splitting as they sag. And some are now apparently held up by the pillars in the center of the tomb. In many ways, the newer stonework seems to function like a lining atop — or inside of — possibly older work.

From the front, remnants of a low stone wall curve away on both sides and head back up the hill into which the Stone Chamber is built. Atop the hill, they turn corners, head towards each other, and meet as a gateway up behind the tomb. We found a tall, apparently toppled corner piece lying on the ground in one of the corners.

Possibly Toppled Corner Piece. Photo by Mike Luoma.

A big Thank You, again, to NEARA NH State Coordinator Devon Toland, for guiding the way to cool sites & sights!

Gateway Atop the Tomb. Photo by Mike Luoma.