While it may not be as well known as its English counterpart, America’s Stonehenge in Salem, N.H., is still an impressive rock group. Once known as “Mystery Hill,” America’s Stonehenge draws believers and skeptics alike and has been featured on shows such as “In Search Of…,” “Weird or What?” and “History’s Mysteries.”

          “America’s Stonehenge is an enigmatic and captivating archeological site,” said Vic Deadly in a Google review. “Whether you are a history enthusiast, a nature lover, or simply seeking a place of intrigue, America’s Stonehenge offers a unique and unforgettable journey into the mysteries of the past.”

A murky backstory

          Scattered across several acres of private property owned by Dennis Stone, America’s Stonehenge consists of a variety of stone huts, chambers and passageways as well as a 4.5-ton “sacrificial” slab. There is also a perimeter formation of standing stones that aligns with a central observation deck to create what many believe to be an astronomical calendar.

Stone’s father, Bob Stone, first heard about the property while getting a haircut in 1955. After seeing the stone formations for himself, he fell in love with the site and bought it.

          The origin, age and function of the rock and stone formations are hotly contested, and the scant scientific evidence that exists poses more questions than answers. Some people, including the Stone family, believe that prehistoric European settlers built the formations 4,000 years ago, giving it a possible connection with the famed English megalith as well as the seat of Phoenician society today known as Beirut, Lebanon.

          An insurance executive named William Goodwin, who owned the property in the 1930s, believed that 11^th-century Irish Monks created the structures. He went so far as to rearrange some of the stones to support his hypothesis. As a result of Goodwin’s tinkering, it may be impossible to know for sure which portion of the arrangements are original and what has been altered.

          A Harvard professor named Barry Fell looked into supposed inscriptions located on some of the stones and concluded that they were of Phoenician or Iberian origin. It should be noted that Fell’s expertise was in marine biology and not epigraphy, though, and his conclusions were met with great skepticism among the scientific community. Nonetheless, one of the rock carvings supposedly reads “To Baal on behalf of the Canaanites, this is dedicated.”

Separating fact from fiction

What is known about America’s Stonehenge is that the site served as a homestead and a rock quarry in the 19th century. Native American tribes were active in the area at one time, and charcoal found between the rocks was tested and found to be about 3,000 years old. Everything else is speculation.

Some believe that John Patee, who lived on the property from 1825 to 1849, created the underground stone chambers to use as root cellars for food storage and the retaining walls as animal pens. Although it is intriguing to suggest that the large slab table with drainage rivulets could have been used for ancient sacrificial purposes, it is just as likely that its use was for making lye soap or serving as a colonial apple press.

Curtis Runnels, an archeology professor at Boston University, visited America’s Stonehenge in the late 1980s. He remains skeptical of its supposed historical importance. When interviewed for an episode of the History Channel’s “Secrets of the Ancient World” in 2002, he said there is no evidence of Bronze Age artifacts near the site and that such a theory is little more than wishful thinking.

“Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence,” Runnels said. “What I want to see at America’s Stonehenge is a bronze ax of demonstrable European origin, in a form used in Europe 3,000 years ago, found in a sealed archeological layer. I guess I’m just a stick in the mud. I want to see real evidence.”

Sparking the imagination

          No matter where a person falls on the belief meter, a visit to America’s Stonehenge is an interesting place to spend the afternoon. Besides the historic stone formations, the roadside attraction offers on-site trails, alpacas, a museum, a gift shop and the opportunity to take part in several special events throughout the year. Travelers also won’t want to miss the total eclipse of the sun at America’s Stonehenge on April 8, 2024.

Museum hours are from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. every day, although the box office closes at 3 p.m. Tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for seniors and $9 for children ages 5-12. Memberships are also available, which give patrons unlimited access to the grounds during regular business hours. For more information, visit www.stonehengeusa.com.

Next Article: International Peace Garden promotes a better world