Pig Point suggests 10,000 years of continuous human activity
Posted On: Nov 21st, 2015 at 13:49
United States
The interestingly named site of Pig Point, along the Patuxent River, Chesapeake Bay, in Maryland, is turning out to be one of the most important Native American sites in the whole of the United States.
Previously it was thought that Pig Point was just a ceremonial centre, but artefacts being uncovered are showing that human activity was continuous, perhaps for thousands and thousands of years, and may have contained villages that stretch for three-and-a-half miles along the banks of the river. These findings, and the site of Pig Point, suggest that Native American tribes were not as nomadic as was first thought. It certainly is about time the stereotypical notions of Native American Indians are finally quashed, and the idea of peace-loving nomads who lived at one with the earth is something I find a little too convenient for the plight of modern Native Americans who, without doubt, are suffering immense poverty in many places. Outside of academia that is certainly the way people think of the Native Americans – that they were peaceful and kind to the earth – but they were no different to any other tribe, warring with each other, fighting for resources, etc. The idea of the peace-loving Native American has been adopted, manipulated and distorted by the spiritual movement, who often talk of Native American spirit guides, and this idea stems from the stereotypical image which is in fact false. Anyway, that’s all veering away somewhat…
The oldest artefact yet found at Pig Point dates to 8000 BC, and therefore the site may have been inhabited for nearly ten thousand years – right up until the arrival of the colonising Europeans.
