Ceremonial stone landscape facts for kids
Ceremonial Stone Landscapes are special places in eastern North America where American Indians built amazing structures out of stone. These sites include different kinds of stonework like stone walls, piles of rocks called cairns, and even stone rooms. Some boulders are shaped in unusual ways, or split with smaller stones placed inside. Others are propped up off the ground. These stone landscapes are very important to many Native American tribes because they believe these places were used for sacred ceremonies and prayers for thousands of years.
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Ceremonial Stone Landscapes
What Are These Stone Landscapes?
These unique stone sites are found across the eastern parts of North America. They were created by the ancestors of today's Native American tribes. The United Southern and Eastern Tribes (USET), which is a group of Native American tribes, uses the term "Ceremonial Stone Landscapes" to describe them.
The stonework at these sites can look very different. You might see long, low stone walls built without any mortar. There are also piles of rocks, sometimes called cairns, which can be small or very large. Some sites have stone chambers, which are like small rooms made of stone. You might also find large boulders that have been moved or shaped in unusual ways. Sometimes, a big rock is split, and smaller stones are carefully placed inside the crack. Other times, large boulders are propped up off the ground using smaller rocks.
Why Are These Stone Landscapes Important?
For a long time, many people, including some archaeologists, thought these stone structures were just rocks cleared by farmers. They believed farmers moved the stones to make space for crops or to build fences. However, the USET tribes have a different understanding. They believe these sites are much older and were built for spiritual and ceremonial reasons.
The USET tribes say that their ancestors' medicine people used these sacred landscapes for thousands of years. They believe these places helped their people stay connected to Mother Earth and find balance and harmony. The stone structures are seen as "prayers in stone," showing the deep spiritual beliefs of the people who built them.
Protecting These Sacred Sites
Because these sites are so important to Native American culture and history, the USET passed a special resolution in 2007. This resolution is called "Sacred Ceremonial Stone Landscapes Found in the Ancestral Territories of United Southern and Eastern Tribes, Inc. Member Tribes."
The resolution explains that these stone landscapes and their structures are very valuable to the tribes. It asks the United States government to help understand and protect these special places. By recognizing these sites as sacred and historical, the USET hopes to make sure they are preserved for future generations. This way, the cultural heritage and spiritual traditions connected to these landscapes can continue to be honored.
