Discription

This grooved stone is currently the doorstep into the Law Office. There is some wear on the stone from foot traffic. This raises a pertinent preservation issue for this object. The groove has an oval shape, its width and depth are variable. The narrowest sections (~1/4 inch in width) have a clear metal chisel cut groove. The wider sections show a chipping pattern suggestive of a hammer or mill pick being used (The chipping pattern could also be the result of the chisel being worked across the width of the groove rather along the its length). The spout has a width of 3/4 inch and an approximate depth of 1 inch. It has a V shape cut. The spout stands out in sharp contrast to the oval groove because of its greater depth and width.

Discussion

The design, size, and groove cut with metal chisel are consistent with an interpretation of this stone being carved for use as a lye stone.

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Description

The groove is V shaped with one side of the V having a lower angle (slant) than the other side. It has a long spout traversing across a trapezoidal shaped projection on one side of the stone. Rather than being carved as a continuous circle, the groove appears to have been carved as a series segments similar to a octagon. The segments are partially curved giving the appearance of a roughly circular shape. Some of the segment junctions are more peaked than smoothly curved. The stone in the interior of the oval has some discoloration.

Discussion

The V shaped groove is typical of grooves carved with a metal chisel. The lower angle or slant on one side of the V groove is also typical and has been observed on some gravestones and Newbury, MA milestones (see Stories Carved in Stone By Mary Gage & James Gage). The overall shape of stone with its long trapezoidal shaped projection for the spout is similar to a much larger version in front of the Library in Glocester, RI. The Glocester example is an apple press. The smaller size of the OSV example is more consistent with a Lye stone interpretation. The discoloration in the center may be the result of chemical interaction with the lye.

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Description

It is roughly a square shaped flat piece of granite with a deep groove around the perimeter of the stone. The groove has a rectangular shaped cross-section. On one side is a drainage spout connected to the groove. The spout is located off-center. On the upper left corner, the groove lacks a squared off junction. The groove extends beyond the junction (fig. 9) and slopes at angle from the top surface of the stone to the depth of the groove at that point it meets the junction.

Discussion

The carver of this grooved stone began at the non-squared off junction. Using a chisel the carver began the carving by creating a sloped grooved. Once the desired depth was reach (at the junction), the carver chiseled out the groove. At the next three junctions, the carver only needed to change angle of the chiseling 90 degrees to continue carving. No additional sloped grooves were necessary. The spout extends from the groove to edge of the stone. It slopes downward from the level of groove to edge of the stone to facilitate good drainage.

The overall design of this grooved stone, the wide deep groove, and the stone’s overall size is consistent with both wooden and stone bases used for apple presses. It has strong similarity with the wooden cider press in OSV collection and historic wooden and stone base cider presses in Great Britain which are documented in Cidermaking by Michael Quinon (1997, Shire Publications Ltd.).

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Description

This large slab of surface ledge granite is carved with a circular deep “V” groove with attached spout. The deep “V” groove is characteristic of a metal chisel.

Discussion

The current plague on the stone indicates it was an apple cider press. The size of stone and the depth of the grooves seems consistent with that interpretation.

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Description

The stone is piece granite split or pried off of surface ledge. It has a roughly rectangular perimeter groove with two attached spouts. At one end the grove angles inward following the contour of the outer edge of the stone. The groove varies in width and depth and the angle of its sides. however, one side of groove is nearly vertical while the other side slopes inward at a more gradual angle. Chipping and divet marks are noticeable in the groove. This indicates that the groove was crudely carved with some type of metal hammer (rather than a chisel).

Discussion

The evidence indicates that this was a historically carved grooved stone. Its layout and size is similar to the cider press stone at Old Sturbridge Village. The local historical society states it was a apple cider press stone and the evidence supports that interpretation.

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Description

This large slab of surface granite was quarried from nearby surface ledge.  It is raised upon three stone columns and the edge of the Oracle Chamber. The “speaking tube” extends from the outside of the chamber under the stone slab to the interior room. The ledge under the raised stone slab has a moderate slope.

The groove is carved around the perimeter of the stone creating a rectangular shape. A single spout is attached to the groove. Below the spout is a V shape notch the ledge. The groove has a shallow rounded shape. The surface of the groove indicates it was carved using a hammer stone. No metal tools were used.

Discussion

This grooved stone has been the subject of many theories. It has been argued it was a cider press. The location of the stone argues against such an interpretation. The groove slab is placed on a moderately slope ledge in a tightly confined area. By far less than ideal conditions for such an operation especially when several large flat expanses of ground are available less than 50 feet away. All historically documented cider press base stones are placed 6 to 18 inches above ground level. This was for a practical reason - the farmer needed to be able to reach the arms of the screw press used to press the apples. This slab is simply to high off the ground to operate the press itself. Combined with the lack of evidence for metal tools, this theory can be soundly rejected.

Archaeological excavations at the site have revealed multiple episodes of Native American quarrying of the surface ledge. The pecked grooves on this stone link it to Native American activity at the site. Mary Gage has argued in America’s Stonehenge Deciphered that this stone grooved stone was an elaborate ceremonial feature. Sacred water poured into the grooves exited the stone at the groove, formed a waterfall which poured into the V shaped notch in the ledge below. A sacred quartz crystal, mined on the site, was placed in the notch where it came into contact with the water. This co-mingling of water and crystals had profound spiritual and symbolic meaning to the Native Americans.

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