WHAT DO CERAMICS TELL US ABOUT WAYLAND’S ANCIENT INHABITANTS?
Saturday, October 21 ~ 2:00 – 4:00 PM
Wayland Town Building Large Hearing Room
Massachusetts Archaeology Month Event, co-sponsored with the Wayland Historical Commission and presented by Dr. John Pretola. Dr. Pretola will provide the first professional analysis conducted on ceramic pottery sherds found in one Wayland archaeological site. Pottery provides clues about how ancient Native Americans manufactured their pottery and how pots were used in daily life. The ceramics from this site suggest inhabitants several thousand years ago, during early Middle Woodland times, were becoming more sedentary and augmenting a wild foods diet with plant propagation. Actual Native American artifacts recovered from Wayland archaeological sites will be on exhibit, some dating as far back as 8,000 years ago. You are invited to bring artifacts you have found for identification by experts in the Wayland Archaeology Group.
Refreshments: Minnette Harrington
Pottery was first used by New England Native Americans about 3,000 years ago. New England pottery is very fragile. When pottery is found at archeological sites in New England, it is usually fragmented into many small pieces. Pottery is assumed to have been made by women, there are few early historic references to men making pottery. At first pots were used mainly for cooking, but later in time pots were used to store foods as well.
For more information:
Native American Technology and Art
Massachusetts Archaeology Society
Hello, do you have photos of ancient native American pottery sherds available to see online (or in person?) I’m curious is any of the sherds/parts have impressions of plant material or woven plant material. I’ve just been reading about some pottery impressions from Denmark and/or Great Britain and that has me wondering about pottery impressions closer to home. Thank you for the information.
(is this talk available to watch or listen to online?)