tall turtle
7-acres of woodlands in New Salem, Massachusetts with ancient stone formations honoring celestial events
Natural & Cultural Significance
Beautifully forested land on a hill facing east to collect the new day was donated to NLC in June of 2024 by Sarah Kohler.
The land is lush with trees, undergrowth and wildlife habitat as well as an ancient network of stones positioned to honor celestial activity including both the summer and winter solstice.
The property gets its name from a magnificent boulder located on the land, split almost evenly in half and accentuated with intricate carvings. One section of the boulder lays flat on the ground and the part left standing is about 5 feet tall. It is chiseled at the top in the likeness of a turtle head. Below the head, a section of the standing stone is deeply grooved to form the shape of a turtle shell.
The giant turtle monument is the focal point of an enormous network of stones, placed all over the hillside in formations of a celestial nature. Some are marked with carvings and can be attributed to alignments of significance from Solstice to Solstice, to lunar cycles, and to other meaningful celestial points.
Sarah believes the stones are the work of the ancestral people of this land and must be preserved.
“They were placed there with intention, with deliberation, wisdom, pragmatism, prayer, and ceremony that is beyond my comprehension and experience.”
A conservation restriction on the land will be held by the Mount Grace Land Trust. Native Land Conservancy holds a Cultural Respect Easement for the Nipmuc.