All through Dartmouth, New Bedford, etc. there are small stone walls used as property lines. Where did all the stone come from and why did so many people use it in the area?
2007-07-18 14:55:52 · 3 answers · asked by John K 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Geography
When people settled here they cleared the land for farming. They took the rocks and moved them to the perimiter of their land. This served both the purpose of marking ther land and also clearing the fields.
... yes i grew up there myself, small town near brockton.
2007-07-18 15:01:35 · answer #1 · answered by billgoats79 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Two good answers. The countryside of New England was covered by rocks deposited there when glaciers associated with the last ice age retreated. Many later sank beneath the soil through water movement over the eons. The rocks and boulders had to be removed from farmland to allow for plowing. Even an average rock could damage a plow which was not an inexpensive item. It must have been a huge task when you think about it. Moving those millions of rocks mostly one at a time and by hand. The rocks were put to use where ever they were found whether as fences, foundations for houses linings for wells, or chimneys.
2007-07-19 08:52:21 · answer #2 · answered by ericbryce2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They exported it from the ground, where it is plentiful.
2007-07-18 22:01:45 · answer #3 · answered by cattbarf 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋