Ancient Fishweir Project
Encyclopedia
Ancient Fishweir Project is a collaborative group that creates an annual public art installation on Boston Common
. In the spring of each year, members of the Massachuset and Wampanoag Native American tribes work with students, educators and artists to construct a fish-weir in honor of the people who built fishweirs 3500 to 5200 years BP (Before Present
) in the area that is now urban Boston.
The fishweir construction is based on archeological discovery of wooden stakes from fishweirs, including the Boylston Street Fishweir
, that are still buried under the streets of the Back Bay, Boston.
The early fishweirs, fence-like structures of wood and brush, were built in tidal flats to catch alewife, smelt and herring during the spring spawn.
The time of the spring fish spawn, and the beginning of new growing season, is traditionally considered the New Year for Wampanoag and Massachuset people. In traditional culture it is said that the fish return to spawn in the streams when “the oak leaf is as big as a mouse’s ear”.
Annual building of the fishweir on Boston Common
, the oldest public common in the country (1634), challenges assumptions of the history that is currently taught. Construction of the fishweir is supported by educational programs and teacher workshops in collaboration with Boston Children's Museum
. Lectures and on-site music and dance performance events provide interpretation of the history for students and the public.
Boston Common
Boston Common is a central public park in Boston, Massachusetts. It is sometimes erroneously referred to as the "Boston Commons". Dating from 1634, it is the oldest city park in the United States. The Boston Common consists of of land bounded by Tremont Street, Park Street, Beacon Street,...
. In the spring of each year, members of the Massachuset and Wampanoag Native American tribes work with students, educators and artists to construct a fish-weir in honor of the people who built fishweirs 3500 to 5200 years BP (Before Present
Before Present
Before Present years is a time scale used in archaeology, geology, and other scientific disciplines to specify when events in the past occurred. Because the "present" time changes, standard practice is to use AD 1950 as the origin of the age scale, reflecting the fact that radiocarbon...
) in the area that is now urban Boston.
The fishweir construction is based on archeological discovery of wooden stakes from fishweirs, including the Boylston Street Fishweir
Boylston Street Fishweir
In archeological literature, the name Boylston Street Fishweir refers to ancient fishing structures first discovered in 1913 buried 29 to below Boylston Street in Boston, Massachusetts...
, that are still buried under the streets of the Back Bay, Boston.
The early fishweirs, fence-like structures of wood and brush, were built in tidal flats to catch alewife, smelt and herring during the spring spawn.
The time of the spring fish spawn, and the beginning of new growing season, is traditionally considered the New Year for Wampanoag and Massachuset people. In traditional culture it is said that the fish return to spawn in the streams when “the oak leaf is as big as a mouse’s ear”.
Background
Initiators of the Ancient Fishweir Project include Gill Solomon, Sachem of the Massachuset tribe , Ellen Berkland, Archeologist for the City of Boston, and Annawon Weedon and Jim Peters of the Wampanoag Tribe.Annual building of the fishweir on Boston Common
Boston Common
Boston Common is a central public park in Boston, Massachusetts. It is sometimes erroneously referred to as the "Boston Commons". Dating from 1634, it is the oldest city park in the United States. The Boston Common consists of of land bounded by Tremont Street, Park Street, Beacon Street,...
, the oldest public common in the country (1634), challenges assumptions of the history that is currently taught. Construction of the fishweir is supported by educational programs and teacher workshops in collaboration with Boston Children's Museum
Boston Children's Museum
Boston Children's Museum is a children's museum in Boston, Massachusetts, dedicated to the education of children. Located on Children's Wharf along the Fort Point Channel, Boston Children's Museum is the second oldest children's museum in the United States...
. Lectures and on-site music and dance performance events provide interpretation of the history for students and the public.
See also
- Boylston Street FishweirBoylston Street FishweirIn archeological literature, the name Boylston Street Fishweir refers to ancient fishing structures first discovered in 1913 buried 29 to below Boylston Street in Boston, Massachusetts...
- Massachuset
- Boston Children's MuseumBoston Children's MuseumBoston Children's Museum is a children's museum in Boston, Massachusetts, dedicated to the education of children. Located on Children's Wharf along the Fort Point Channel, Boston Children's Museum is the second oldest children's museum in the United States...
- Indigenous People's DayIndigenous People's DayIndigenous People's Day is a holiday celebrated in various localities in the United States, begun as a counter-celebration to Columbus Day. The purpose of the day is to promote Native American culture and commemorate the history of Native American peoples...