Sunday, October 6, 2019

America's Stonehenge Vandalized by Suspected Ultra Right Wing Domestic Terrorist Group

On Sunday morning, September 29, 2019, I received a text message from Dennis Stone, owner and operator of the ancient historical site known as "America's Stonehenge", who wrote that his amazing site had been vandalized the previous evening.  Specifically, the vandals left a wooden cross hanging in a tree with disturbing photos and notes attached.  Not far away, they took a power circular saw and cut cryptic messages into the large rectangular slab known as the "Sacrificial Table."  The vandals also destroyed the stones supporting one end of the slab in addition to smashing stones within what is known as the "Oracle Tube." 

My good friend, David Brody, posted enlightening commentary on Facebook this past week recounting how local law enforcement believe the vandalism was likely inspired by the plot of his recently published novel, "Treasure Templari."  A clip of a local news story can be viewed here:  https://www.wmur.com/article/salem-police-investigating-vandalism-at-americas-stonehenge/29345433# 


The cross found hanging in a tree near the so-called "Sacrificial Table" that apparently offended this radical religious hate group. 


The crown jewel at America Stonehenge is what is called the "Sacrificial Table."  The stones used to support one end were smashed, most likely with a sledge hammer, causing the once horizontal table to lean.  A power circular saw was used to cut a cryptic message into the top surface. 


"I am Mark" was cut into the surface at the top, a Christian style cross was cut into the middle, and the letters "WWG1, WGA"were cut at the bottom end.

David pointed out that same night about 30 miles away in Northwood, New Hampshire, a Masonic Lodge burned to the ground.  While the cause of the fire has not yet been determined, arson is a strong possibility and could be related to the vandalism at America's Stonehenge.  David feels terrible the plot in his book may have served as the template for the vandalism which can only be described as a hate crime.  I reminded him that in the last few years three separate acts of vandalism on mysterious artifacts and sites across the country have occurred that could have been due being featured on my show, America Unearthed.  Petroglyphs in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan have been defaced, the Judaculla Stone in Tennessee was vandalized, and the Narragansett Rune Stone boulder was stolen out of the surf in 2012.  Thankfully, due to the hard work of Detective Sheila Paquette with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management - Division of Law Enforcement, it was recovered eight months later.


One of the oldest Masonic Lodges in the country in Northwood, New Hampshire, was engulfed in flames and burned to the ground on September 29, 2019.  It has not yet been determined if arson was to blame or if there is a connection to the vandalism at America's Stonehenge. (Shawn St. Hilaire/Haas News Agency)


The bird head on this ancient indigenous petroglyph in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, was scratched out by a vandal less than six months after the site was featured on my show, America Unearthed.  The vandal was able to find the site despite our efforts not to reveal its location.


In 2016, Walker Chase Wadkins, vandalized the Judaculla Rock, which was also featured in an episode of America Unearthed, and then turned himself in.


In August of 2012, the Narragansett Rune Stone boulder was stolen by the nearest resident who eventually turned the stone over to local law enforcement.

This brings me to the main point of this blog post.  While not the sole reason, one thing I believe emboldens these idiots to commit these atrocities is the marginalization, and outright dismissal by hate bloggers and close-minded academics, of these mysterious artifacts and sites that have not yet to be universally accepted as authentic.  Their negative campaign includes inflammatory language against what they believe are "frauds", "hoaxes" and "fringe" history.  These ignorant and arrogant proclamations, without factual supporting evidence, lead to confusion, indifference, and condemnation by those already with a chip on their shoulder or what's worse, people motivated by religious zealotry which appears to be the case at America's Stonehenge.  We must condemn hate mongers who prefer to generate destructive, negative messages rather than engage in respectful discourse in the pursuit of truth.  The best way to do that is to challenge them with the facts and if they continue with hateful, intentionally misleading rhetoric, simply ignore them.