Customer Reviews

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

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4 star:		(4)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

This is one of the rarest and best investigated studies on the subject of Native American landscape science performed east of the Mississippi prior to the 1990s. Mavor and Dix have stood alone for over 25 years on the subject of stone works in the greater New England area. Mostly archaeoastronomy and accompanying geographic geology, there are many hints of the application of coherent relationships between and among many of the sites visited. I was amazed at the time it must have taken to locate and catalog these ancient stone structures and realized that their work such be regarded as preliminary to a broader discussion of purpose and intent. The authors have been somewhat overlooked, and so this is a real treat for those who would like to be among the few who are aware of its intrinsic value in anthropology and archaeoastronomy. Manitou should at least for now be considered as a sacrcosanct paradigm.

A classic example of pseudo-science and magical thinking.

To its credit, MANITOU provides a useful survey of some curious man-made structures scattered around New England whose origin and purpose have been forgotten. But the authors have apparently convinced themselves that these mysterious structures are of pre-Columbian antiquity, and that many of them possess astronomical alignments and mystical significance.

It's possible that they may be correct. But extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, and none is offered here. Instead, we get page after page of ill-informed speculation, fudged "facts" and shoddy "research". (Example: They claim that Pratt Pond in Upton, Massachusetts is the source of the Charles River. Tell that to any local geologist.)

Too bad there isn't money for some real research in this area. I'll bet the truth would be even more interesting than the fantasies proposed in this collection of New Age claptrap.