Burlington Totem Remains a Mystery to Historians

BURLINGTON, MA – Forty years ago, Robert Panico's son was looking for turtles in a Burlington swamp when he stumbled upon a totem head affixed to a nearby tree.

A drought had lowered the water level between Route 3A and Fieldstone Drive, revealing the mysterious face to young Mike Panico. Though the tree was dead, the totem itself was salvageable, and the Panicos cut it off and took it home.

It remained with the family for nearly four decades before the elder Panico shipped it to the Burlington Historical Society, himself perplexed as to its origins after years of searching.

Panico, who now lives in Florida, told the Burlington Historical Society he had the totem examined by an archaeologist; he deemed it very old and definitely Native American.

But Panico remained skeptical of the archaeologist's analysis and sent it back to Burlington, hoping for answers. So far none have been found.

According to the Burlington Historical Society, the head weighs about four and a half pounds and stands 10 inches tall. It has sent these details to Historical American Antiquities in Maryland as well, but the historical society is calling on anyone who might know how the totem ended up on the side of a tree in Burlington to provide further information.

Comments may be sent to noheltymkn@verizon.net or the Burlington Historical Society Facebook page.