The Value Of Preserving Tribal Artifacts For Future Generations

The 4.4 acre Halls Swamp site in Kingston, Massachusetts was an exciting archaeological discovery for Native American history. Much of the work took place in 2014, but the discoveries made there uncovered a rich history, knowledge of which will last a lifetime. The preservation of sacred sites is integral to the protection of the culture, but the Halls Swamp dig also uncovered evidence that shed light on the lifestyle of a Native American community living 8,000 years ago. Archaeological discoveries like this highlight the importance of preserving cultural items for future generations in order for them to understand their past. 

The Halls Swamp dig

Researchers uncovered a number of structures and objects during the excavation that showed how people were living on the site thousands of years ago. Archaeologists were joined by members of the Aquinnah Wampanoag and the Mashpee tribes in order to monitor the research, and experts from the Public Archaeology Laboratory at the time declared the site to be ‘very significant.’ One of the reasons for this was the condition in which the items were found. Sites as old as Halls Swamp have usually been disturbed by erosion, digging or development, and it is unusual to find an array of artifacts in such good condition. Over 24,000 artifacts were uncovered in total, including hunting and domestic tools. 

Highlighting the importance of artifacts

The age of the artifacts uncovered means that they would never have been passed down through generations, and must now be professionally preserved in order to keep them in good condition. However, for some people, the artifacts seem a little more personal than they do to others: research revealed that the Wampanoag tribe are descendants of the people who lived at Halls Swamps thousands of years ago. For the Wampanoag people, the Halls Swamp discovery sheds a little light on the lifestyles of their ancestors. While they may have antique photographs, prints and treasured items from previous generations, the revelation of artifacts thousands of years old reflect a culture that would otherwise have been lost. 

Preserving tribal heirlooms 

Discoveries like the Halls Swamp site illustrate the value in ensuring that cultural items are preserved for future generations. Those who have inherited antiques that represent their tribe will want to ensure that they are preserved so that their great grandchildren understand their history. This, of course, requires that these treasured items are protected from general wear and tear, and are cleaned carefully in order to be well preserved. Expert advice for preserving wooden antiques is to scrub them gently with a soft bristled toothbrush and treat them with wax.

Copper, meanwhile, should be cleaned with a solution of boiling water, salt and white vinegar to restore its shine. If you have tribal antiques in your family, be careful to clean them and keep them safe for future generations. While previous generations remain in our memory, the further away from them we become, the more distant their stories, and it is only through these items being preserved that future generations will understand their past. 

The Halls Swamp site is just one sacred site uncovered by archaeologists, and the future may hold many more discoveries. Learning about the lives of our ancestors thousands of years ago highlights the importance of preserving the tribal antiques we have access to now in order to ensure that the rich history of our culture is passed down to future generations.