An Element of Serpent Row Effigy Design
A Possible Serpent Effigy Displays Sweeping Side-Fins
Exploring in the Boylston, Massachusetts area in December, we came across this stone row whose apparent simplicity was deceptive as, upon closer inspection, I discovered that — in some sections — it displayed what appeared to me to be Ancient Great Horned and Feathered Serpent Iconography, in the form of a Sweeping Side-Fin, a design I’ve seen elsewhere in New England.
These stone rows are likely Indigenous Serpent Effigies, Serpents depicted in stone, and older than many people imagine. Some of the work is on full display, but we don’t see it. Not usually. Our minds seem to filter out the perception of design in the stones, the likelihood this is stonework, unless we learn to see a little differently.
I’d been seeing, a simple, prominent, yet iconic Serpent Effigy work pattern repeated elsewhere in New England, representing side fins sweeping off a Serpent form. I believe this pattern to be indicative of Indigenous stonework, but admit the Serpentine attribution is speculative.
I discovered that, in order to explain what I was seeing, it helped to sketch it out for folks. This is perhaps a bit more stylized than realistic, in that it accentuates the features I’m pointing out.
