Indigenous cosmology refers to the traditional beliefs and understanding of the universe held by various Indigenous peoples worldwide. Indigenous cosmologies are often deeply connected to the land and reflect each community’s unique and spiritual perspectives. These belief systems generally involve complex relationships between humans, the natural world, the night sky, and the spiritual realm. Many Indigenous cosmologies include creation stories that explain how the universe and humanity were created and origin stories that describe how various plants, animals, and natural phenomena came into being.
A solar calendar, based on the Earth’s orbit around the sun, plays a vital role in agriculture, allowing people to track the changing seasons and determine the optimal time for planting and harvesting crops. In Dawnland, Indigenous communities developed their solar calendars through a combination of astronomical observations and mathematical calculations.
An exceptional example of a solar observatory exists on Cape Ann in Massachusetts, where an ancient solar observatory was constructed on a plateau in Gloucester approximately 2000 to 4000 years ago. While evidence suggests that some stones were reset as recently as 500 years ago, the observatory itself represents an enduring testament to the ingenuity and wisdom of its Indigenous builders.
Situated within a vast, millennia-old Pawtucket village that once flourished between the Mill and Anisquam Rivers, the observatory bore witness to the Pawtucket people’s existence during the mid-archaic through the Woodland period. However, the Pawtucket community no longer exists as a cohesive unit, having faced the destructive forces of English colonization. Today, descendants of the tribe survive within multiple other Dawnland tribes, mainly finding refuge and continuity within the Wabanaki communities.
The presence of the solar calendar and observatory came to light through the diligent research of local anthropologist Mary Ellen Lepionka, who explored the village site. Collaborating with a team of dedicated volunteers, including a geologist and an aerospace engineer, Lepionka unveiled the hidden secrets of the observatory. Initially covered in brush that obstructed sightlines on the ground, the plateau was eventually cleared by town volunteers, revealing its celestial connections.
Of note, no local tribes in Massachusetts or New Hampshire directly participated in the research despite their historic presence in the area. Due to the state government’s position which views all stone structures within the state as non-Native, Massachusetts did not provide any support for the research efforts.
Over the course of several weeks, aerospace engineer Mark Carlotto thoroughly examined the site and concluded that Indigenous peoples purposefully modified and employed the landscape of Pole Hill as an astronomical observatory. Evidence suggests that this usage commenced between 2000 and 4000 years ago, with adjustments made to some markers approximately 500 years ago. Carlotto’s investigation included on-ground observations as well as analysis using Google Earth. By plotting potential summer solstice sunrise and sunset stones through Google Earth, he explored the observatory’s layout to determine if the stones could be observed from a central sighting stone.
Using geo-coordinates, complex mathematical equations, and information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Carlotta found that the various alignments of the stones were not accidental nor coincidental but deliberate attempts to calculate the solstices and, perhaps, the vernal equinox. Whether the Indigenous builders calculated the angles for placement of each marker or if they used observation to align the parts is yet unknown. The calculations show that the displacement angles for both the summer sunrise and summer sunset stones show that these stones (and the sighting stone) were aligned between 2000 and 4000 years ago.
The alignment of the summer solstice stones predates the cultivation of corn in the northeast. This points to the observatory’s use as more than an agricultural device. Most likely, the observatory was first used for ceremonies and stories that corresponded with the stars above.
The evidence collected and interpreted by Carlotto strongly supports the observatory’s ceremonial use until the development of corn crops in the northeast. As the cultivation of corn and companion crops advanced, the observatory assumed an additional role, signaling the onset of planting and harvesting seasons. It is estimated that the winter sunrise stone was not set in place until about 500 years ago, coinciding with the arrival of corn in the area. Additional confirmation of these findings was achieved through the utilization of drone footage, maps, and geological analyses.
While the Pawtucket people, who were undoubtedly the builders of the observatory, no longer exist as a distinct community, their legacy lives on. The site is now cared for by local conservation groups, which oversee its preservation and maintain the trails. Unfortunately, in the summer of 2022, a catastrophic fire engulfed around ten acres of the 60-acre parcel. Firefighters battled the blaze for two days until a Massachusetts National Guard chopper was deployed to drop water gathered from the nearby harbor onto the site. An individual was subsequently arrested for starting the fire.
The Pole Hill observatory stands as a unique and invaluable testament to the scientific knowledge possessed by the Indigenous ancestors of Massachusetts, offering profound insights into their cosmology and belief systems. Present-day scientists are now engaged in studying other rock formations that intertwine with the observatory, exploring potential correlations with various star constellations in the northern hemisphere. Through this interdisciplinary approach, we continue to uncover and honor the ancient wisdom of Indigenous peoples.
http://carlotto.us/MJCtechPubs/pdfs/2017polesHill.pdf
Aquene, Cher
Cheryll Toney Holley 