I am an archaeological field technician who lives in the Valley. I have been in correspondence with those interested in preserving the Early Archaic Native American site in Northampton after an archaeological firm that conducted the survey gave a presentation at Historic Northampton.
I am writing to express my support for efforts attempting to preserve the site at North King and Hatfield streets, where designs are being made for construction of a roundabout. It is easy to consider a site “destroyed” when an excavation is completed, especially in cultural resource management archaeology, which has the goal of “full recovery” before construction.
I was impressed by the quality and extent of the excavation, and the findings associated with the excavation. However, I do not necessarily agree that an absolutely complete recovery of cultural materials is possible even with a thorough excavation.
This is why projects often have tribal and archaeological monitors during the construction process, to observe possible finds. Also, I share the belief that both objects and landscapes are equally important when interpreting site values.
The landscape, and the story associated with it, still speaks to Native American presence on the land we share today. We have an opportunity to make that continued presence, past and present, more obvious to our community by avoiding the construction of this roundabout.
Avoidance can open the potential for many forms of engagement between our community and this history. A park with signage and an engaging walking trail is something I find appealing.
I think we, as a community, have an obligation to understand the histories of the land we live on, especially the Native American histories that have been intentionally erased in the past.
Erica Wolencheck
Greenfield