Manitou: The Sacred Landscape of New England's Native Civilization [Paperback]

James W. Mavor Jr. (Author), Byron E. Dix (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1989

In the summer of 1974 Byron Dix discovered in Vermont the first of many areas in New England believed to be ancient Native American ritual sites. Dix and coauthor James Mavor tell the fascinating story of the discovery and exploration of these many stone structures and standing stones, whose placement in the surrounding landscape suggests that they played an important role in celestial observation and shamanic ritual. 

Editorial Reviews

Review

". . . among the few innovative advances in the field of New England archaeology in recent years . . . looks at a class of data which are ordinarily overlooked by both prehistorians and historians, and begins to fit them into a new paradigm . . . sensitively written and generally well-supported by documentary and excavational evidence."
(Massachusettes Archaeological Society )

"Through this work we see our landscape anew. Now when we go to the woods, where before we saw just low walls, we have learned to see stone mounds and marked trees, vigil places, pointer, marker, and god stones. Walking there has come to be an honoring of a time when all life was holy."
(Nancy Jack Todd, Annals of the Earth )

"This ground-breaking treatment, handsomely illustrated with photos, maps, and line drawings, will unquestionably propel the emerging field of American geomancy considerably forward. A contemplation of the manitou worldview, presented here with excellence and mature excitement, yields a radically different appraisal of a fundamental aspect of our national history and geography, while suggesting new land use and conservation parameters for the future."
(Yoga Journal )

About the Author

James Mavor was an oceanographic engineer at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. He was one of the designers of the deep submersible Alvin, and he initiated the Minoan excavations on Thera, which culminated in the publication of Voyage to Atlantis. Byron Dix, now deceased, was an optical designer. For fifteen years they worked together researching New England anthropology and archaeo-astronomy. 

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Inner Traditions (November 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892810785
• ISBN-13: 978-0892810789
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #611,001 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Archeological view of a spiritual landscape, December 21, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Manitou: The Sacred Landscape of New England's Native Civilization (Paperback)

A superbly illustrated, highly detailed and scholarly description of sacred sites in New England, most of which are ignored by the classical archeological community. The authors provide insight into the spiritual connections between native peoples and settlers. Good information for those interested in "seeing" the sacred landscape around them.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unique book on Native American sites in New England, December 26, 2001

By 

jcsalem (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Manitou: The Sacred Landscape of New England's Native Civilization (Paperback)

This is the only book I've seen that describes a rich variety of Native American sites in New England. They have received scant attention from most archaelogists without good reason. This book just gives an inkling of the ancient sites that exist in New England.
While many of the sites are remarkable, I do not always agree with the authors' conclusions. I also found it necessary to skim some of the lengthy, detailed descriptions of some sites.
I probably would only give this a 3 star ranking if there were other, better books on the subject. However, this is the only one that exists --- you should buy it if you are interested in this field.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unique topic addressed in depth, May 21, 2009

By 

Non-fiction Addiction (New England) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Manitou: The Sacred Landscape of New England's Native Civilization (Paperback)

Nonfiction account of the authors' work to reveal meaning behind rock structures found in the Northeast. Brings new thinking to the potential origin and use of all types of rocks in a sacred landscape by the earliest Americans. Makes a very strong case for why these altered rocks, rock formations and mounds aren't of colonial American origin, but not enough information is given to explain some of the proposed uses, including modern uses for these ancient sites. A strong editor might have organized the material differently. Nevertheless, I haven't found any other source as detailed, original and revealing in addressing the nature and extent of these features which continue to be lost due to ignorance and lack of protection. I particularly enjoyed one of the authors' study of the mound structures discovered in his own 'backyard' woods. After reading the book, you will have fresh eyes for the New England landscape. This knowledge will be of great practical use for a local conservation stewardship project.