After a few months of work at "Site X", we decided to head into some much more familiar territory for the 4th of July weekend. There are many "King Phillip's Rocks" around New England, owing to the fame and terror inspired by the Wampanoag leader Metacomet, also known as King Phillip, in the colonial days of "King Phillip's War" (1675-76). Years later, it seemed each region had a spot in which they claimed the sachem met with tribal councils and colonial intermediaries. The location pictured below is, in my opinion, the 'granddaddy' of them all. I had not been back to this site for perhaps 20 years...it's not quite as easy to get to as it used to be! It was once an area frequented by picnickers and partyers and even further back an area that was heavily dug for artifacts, of which many were found.


Photolog

The approach to King Phillip's Rock from the Baquag River. Note the stones at river's edge. They are split or separated to form a pathway from the river up to the boulder as seen in the photo below. King Phillip's Rock looms on the upper right.



The rock opening or portal from the river leading up to the King Phillip's Rock site.

The massive glacial boulder known as King Phillip's Rock. Photographs do not do justice to the very impressive size. In the foreground, that's Mrs. Highland Boy, a.k.a The Algonkian Princess, and the occasional discoverer of arcane antiquities.

Approach to  King Phillip's Rock from the forest to the south.

Detail of area which appears to be worn, chipped or ground away on King Phillip's Rock. In the area on the left, a man of over six feet can stand inside the hollowed out area which is surrounded with stratified quartz. The stone in the foreground may have broken away from the main boulder. The worn circular areas to the upper right may have been used to scale the rock, although Mrs. Highland Boy disagrees contending it looks like the spots were ground out in a near perfect circular fashion for some 'unknown' reason.  See the close-up photo below.

I always prefer to use the principle of Occam's Razor when investigating, making as few assumptions as possible and always looking for the simplest reason. So while Mrs. Highland Boy ascribes some mysterious reason for the circular markings (which I admit look much more perfectly circular and mysterious in person with the naked eye) I prefer to reason that the stone in the foreground of the previous photo was used to stand on, gaining a boost and a toehold onto the side of rock and enabling 200-300 years worth of curiousity seekers to get up on top of King Phillips Rock (albeit with some dexterity required). This does not take into account untold numbers of Indians who likely did the same thing, thus wearing down the rock at said points.  These points may have been chipped out at some point to facilitate the climbing and become worn down over the centuries. I do reserve the right to change my opinion, especially if I become convinced the aforementioned hollowed out chamber section is of more significance. Mrs. Highland Boy rarely sticks to her guns on an issue unless she has some sense she is right.

"Rock on rock" pile on a knoll near King Phillip's Rock. Some ethnographers believe Native Americans made such piles to mark places of spiritual power. They are also used  as trail markers.

Reverse angle of previous photo.

A 'split wedged rock' on the banks of the Baquag River. Again, some New England ethnographers believe Native American's made a religious practice of splitting and wedging rocks to release spiritual power.

Split rock at base of King Phillip's Rock.

A closer look at the "rock portal" from the river leading up to King Phillip's Rock. On previous trips to this site over several years, it never struck me that this could be an 'entry' of sorts from the river to rock site or vice versa. It is imaginable it could have been used for utility or in a ritual manner. I have not at this time investigated for any 'archaeoastronomical' significance. Water and ritual bathing played a huge role in Algonkian shamanic or religious practices, so I lean towards ritual use.

One more of the Alongkian Princess, who made me leave the woods because storms were in the forecast.

A panaromic view of the river approach to King Phillip's Rock.

The study of the King Phillip's Rock site is complicated by the many old digs
done nearby over several generations. A viewing pavilion for visitors was built, I believe sometime in the early-mid 1900's, the remains of which are still visible.  There are also some colonial rock quarry sites nearby and rock walls which date back, judging from the construction, to the 1700's. Access to the site today is somewhat limited. It is interesting to note that King Phillip's actual encampments as referenced in Mary Rowlandson's narrative on her captivity have never been verified but only referred to as in the "Wachuset Hills," generally believed to be in Princeton, Mass, north and westward.

 

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