Welcome

I was inspired to create this blog after following the post of another blogger Peter Waksman who publishes a blog called Rock Piles. This blog will provide information about archaeological evidence of an ancient culture that live in this part of New York before the time of the Sonontouan (Seneca). I have two goals. The first is to promote an understanding of this valuable historical resource. The second is to make sure the stones survive. To accomplish this I will provide some generally information about the area but not provide information on specific locations.

Before I go any further I should point out that this just a theory. The State of New York does not think that this site has any archaeological signifance. No specific artifacts have been found that prove that this theory is correct. Still, I firmly believe that people that lived in this area over one thousand years ago created this site.

At this point I would guess that the reader must be asking themselves what is this guy talking about. The short answer to that question is that there are over three hundred stacked stone piles created by native people that still dot the hills overlooking the lakes. Stone piles like these have been found all over the Eastern United States. To date professional archaeologist have shown little interest in this archaeological phenomena. That may be changing. Amateur archaeologists from all over the country have begun to share information and an undeniable pattern has begun to emerge. I find it fascinating that the secret of these ancient monuments may be discovered because of the interconnective nature of the Internet. What was once the intellectual property of PhD's and doctorial candidates is now available to anyone with a computer.

As time allows I will begin to post information and pictures of some stone pile found on the Hi-Tor State land. Although many of these stone structures are on state land many are on private property. I will only provide information on stone piles found on state land.

Finally. In fifteen years of researching these stone structures I have never turned over a stone. Do not disturb these structures. They have lasted hundreds of years. Look but don't touch! Also, share this information discreetly. It would be a shame if some idiot destroyed one of these objects. Even if you open a stone pile up you wouldn't find anything of value. There is a possibility that some of these stone piles are grave markers. If you want to be a grave robber go to a modern cemetery. Your crime would be more profitable.

Stone Pile Whisper

Stone Pile Whisper

Heavy stones pried from the earth by ancient hands
Hands that knew things we don’t comprehend

Heavy stones piled carefully with purpose and strange order
Over and over, year after year, alone in the end

Heavy stones resting in the sun
Soaking in the rain and holding onto the cold

Seeds become saplings
Saplings become trees
Trees that grow, die, and tumble, resting on stones, only to fade away
Over and over, year after year, alone in the end

Heavy stones surviving change with simple illusion
Their trick of weight and commonality

Heavy stones too sacred and powerful to be tossed away
Even today
When nothing is sacred and everything is tossed away

Heavy stones holding a secret
Whispering so quietly that only the old crow can hear
Whispering of ancient hands and distant secrets
Over and over, year after year, alone in the end

About the High Tor or Hi Tor Stone Monuments

High above the Naples Valley, hidden throughout the forest, are hundreds of stacked stone piles. Contrary to popular belief these stone piles are not historic, they are Pre-Columbian. They were not made by farmers clearing fields they were made by native people. As a young man I picked rocks for the local farmers and I know that no farm hand would waste time making stacked platforms. I have estimated that some of these piles would have taken a month or more to build and there are dozens of these very large piles. Others have theorized that a mentally handicapped family member or a bored pioneer created these stone piles. That is really funny. Some people try so hard to deny the fact that people lived here before the European-Americans took possession of the land.
I believe that the stone piles were created by a culture that lived in this area before the time of the Sonontouan (or "Seneca") people that call this area their birthplace. Over the summer I will be adding more information and pictures to this blog detailing this site. My hope is that others that find this topic interesting will share information with me and work to preserve these ancient artifacts

Yates County Archeology

I have started to put together a collection of blogs that document interesting facts about the ancient past of this land between the lakes. The links listed in the top left section of this blog.