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Written by The Editors
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PEOPLE OF THE DAWN LAND
For at least 10,000 years before European settlement, this region was the home of Native American tribes. Indians traveled with the weather, spending summers on the coast where they were extraordinary fishers and hunters. Precious little evidence of these people are on display locally.
We know extraordinarily little about the diverse native cultures that flourished in the Seacoast region for at least 10,000 years. We assume our Paleo-Indian founders were part of the migration across the land bridge at the Bering Strait following the last Ice Age. We know they were sophisticated and resourceful hunters, able to catch giant deep sea swordfish from dugout canoes as early as the Late Archaic Period 4,000 years ago. We know that soon after the arrival of foreign settlers in the 1600s, native populations were literally wiped out. In Western NH, for example, 98% of the Abnaki speaking people succumbed to the spread of European-borne disease, war and colonization.
 Reconstructing Seacoast life before the "contact" period is a tricky task at best. We have so few puzzle pieces, even when combined with numerous artifacts found in the NH Lakes Region and along the Merrimack River near Manchester. Nearby Maine is riddled with important sites. Reports beginning in the 18th century documented large shell middens or piles of prehistoric kitchen debris including discarded shells, bones and tools. Here we find the mysterious " Red Paint People " who may have marked their burial sites with reddish mineral deposits. Studying prehistoric coastal people is an especially difficult puzzle because the NH Seacoast, part of the Gulf of Maine that extends south to Cape Cod in Massachusetts, has changed shape over the years. Sea level has risen at least 150 feet since Paleo and Archaic Indian days. That means the secrets of their existence may be lost forever, buried miles out to sea.
The most extensively researched and excavated site in our region was the 1974-75 dig in Seabrook, completed just before construction of the nuclear power plant there. This University of New Hampshire project proved the Winnicunnet region, a marshy area not far from modern Hampton Beach, was occupied for at least 4,000 years. Methodically unearthed and analyzed the artifacts include the bones of large and small animals, turtles, codfish, birds and sizable deposits of shells mixed with stone weapons, tools and clay pots.
Funding for scientific study of the region's primitive heritage is hard to come by. The work involves untold hours of scientific work by colleges, professionals, students, and volunteers. Programs like S.C.R.A.P. , a "hands on" field study effort organized by the NH state archeologist, provide crucial training. An active all volunteer NH Archeological Society publishes detailed site reports that are available to the public.
Many collections of Native American artifacts were excavated years ago, but have yet to be effectively studied with modern techniques. Some human skeletal remains have been recently reburied at the request of modern NH Native Americans. But prehistoric artifacts from coastal and inland NH Indians can be seen at local museums. Fundraising efforts are underway to create a new museum to house the Howard Sargent Collection.
No efforts will ever bring back the rich native heritage lost to time and modernization. Today the people who lived here for thousands of years are known simply by the stone weapons they crafted . For lack of more data, archeologists call them "small stemmed point" people. Contemporary Native Americans call them sacred ancestors. Only by listening to the combined voices of modern historians and modern Indians, can we all hear the whisper of their ancient songs. |
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Portsmouth Herald
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Portsmouth Herald Latest Headlines
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| Portsmouth Herald News from SeacoastOnline.com |
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UNH hockey powers past Terriers
DURHAM — The play of the University of New Hampshire men's hockey team special teams looked, well, special, Friday night against Boston University.
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NFL's premier corner Revis mans up on Moss again
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Darrelle Revis has heard enough about his last matchup with Randy Moss. The New York Jets cornerback just wants to move on to the next one.
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Father-son coaches creating legacy with Winnacunnet football
HAMPTON — If nothing else, Winnacunnet High School has proven that two Steve Magris are better than one when it comes to coaching football.
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Bergeron wins it for B's in OT
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Patrice Bergeron scored with 47 seconds left in overtime, lifting the Boston Bruins to a 2-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night.
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Emotional home finale for UNH football
DURHAM — One year ago this week, University of New Hampshire strong safety Terrence Klein intercepted two late passes to preserve a snowy 28-24 win at Maine, more proof that...
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Carter, Magic drop Celtics
BOSTON — Vince Carter scored 26 points, Rashard Lewis had 16 points and 10 rebounds, and the Orlando Magic beat the Boston Celtics 83-78 on Friday night.
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Portsmouth says stimulus jobs overstated by White House
PORTSMOUTH — While federal stimulus dollars flowing into the city may help both causes and the economy, at least one local project echoes concerns expressed nationwide about the accuracy of...
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Joseph Popluhar
TAMPA, Fla. — Mr. Joseph Popluhar, 71, of Tampa, formerly of Portsmouth, N.H., beloved husband of Marjorie (Hunt) Popluhar, died Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009, in Florida.
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Turkey Trot 5K in Portsmouth on Thanksgiving morning
PORTSMOUTH — Thanksgiving is one of the most charitable times of the year. If you're in the giving mood, why not get a little exercise, too?
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Marshwood Middle School parents told 58 of 60 kids accepted unknown Facebook friend
ELIOT, Maine — Marshwood Middle School parents were shocked to learn from Internet expert Jayne Hitchcock Thursday evening that 58 of 60 middle school honors students accepted her as a...
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Newington tax rate drops, but selectman chides state lawmakers
NEWINGTON — Town taxpayers will pay a lower tax rate for 2009, but the chairman of the Board of Selectmen announced the good news with some concerns for state politicians.
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Memorial Bridge re-opens
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Bakers bustling for Sunday's pie festival
GREENLAND — Judy Alix laughed excitedly. "Thirty made, only 470 more to go!" she exclaimed.
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3-car crash on Woodbury Ave.
PORTSMOUTH — A three-car, chain-reaction crash snarled lunch hour traffic Friday on Woodbury Avenue and sent a Maine man to Portsmouth Regional Hospital.
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Thumbs up to preservation, determination
Thumbs up to the heirs of Mary McIntire Davis for selling a 239-acre parcel of salt marsh and forest along the York River to the York Land Trust ,and to...
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John R. Genthner
HAMPTON FALLS — John Richard Genthner, born Jan. 28, 1943, in St. John, New Brunswick, Canada, died peacefully Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009, after a long illness. He was surrounded by...
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Runner's Alley helps racer achieve her goals
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New Generation raises $10,000 with golf tourney
The New Generation Golf tournament was held at Breakfast Hill Golf Club. With the help of all those who supported it, we made more than $10,000.
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Memorial is a N.H. bridge; Herald must act to save it
Sitting a couple of hundred miles up the Maine coast, there isn't anyone who knows or cares about our bridge. They've got their own big-time problems that aren't getting fixed.
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Robert F. Pucciarelli
WELLS, Maine — Robert Francis "Bob" Pucciarelli, 83, of Wells, formerly of Medway, Mass., died early Thursday morning, Nov. 19, 2009.
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| Saturday, November 21, 2009 |
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