Events

Find out what’s happening in the Heritage Area.
BACK TO CONNECT

Nashobah Praying Indians: A Living People, A Living Landscape

Reuben Hoar Library 35 Shattuck Street, Littleton, MA, United States

Meet Strong Bear Medicine of the Nashobah Praying Indians and local historian Daniel V. Boudillion as they discuss the 1654 Nashobah Praying Indian Village. Topics include the Nashobah People – a vibrant, living community – as well as the living landscape of Native ceremonial structures in Littleton, Acton, and neighboring towns. Co-sponsored with Littleton Historical […]

Free

Magunkaquog Praying Town

Acton Memorial Library 486 Main Street, Acton, MA, United States

Archaeologist Holly Herbster discusses her research on one of seven original “Praying Towns” established in 1669 by missionary John Eliot. Colonial records tie specific Native people to the archaeological remains of the original meeting house and the importance of this place within Nipmuc homelands. Ongoing collaborative research with Nipmuc descendants is carrying this story forward. […]

Free

Cutting Edge Digital Technologies Documentation

Virtual

Thomas Elmore, of the GeoNAV Group, and Eva Gibavic, of Ceremonial Landscapes Research, share their experience using 3D LiDAR scanning, photogrammetry, and mapping utilizing ArcGIS’s capabilities to bring extremely accurate digital documentation to research of archaeological and ceremonial sites. Zoom only—All programs are free but require registration here. — The Friends of Pine Hawk 2022 […]

Free

Adult Archaeology Walk

Bettina Abe of Acton’s Natural Resources Division will lead a brisk hike along the Nashoba Brook trail, with stops at the stone chamber and Native American ceremonial sites. Trail conditions can be rocky, uneven, and often wet, and thus participation is limited. Registrants will receive a detailed email several days before the walk. This brisk […]

Free

Paleoindian Life 12,000 Years Ago at the Tenant Swamp Site

Acton Memorial Library 486 Main Street, Acton, MA, United States

Archaeologist Robert Goodby discusses his field work at a site, undisturbed since the end of the Ice Age, in Keene, New Hampshire, that revealed information about the economy, gender roles, and household organization of the region’s first inhabitants, and evidence of social networks that extended for hundreds of miles across northern New England. Archaeological fieldwork […]

Free

Ceremonial Stone Landscape Movement – A Local Perspective

Acton Memorial Library 486 Main Street, Acton, MA, United States

Many of the “mysterious” stone structures of New England, once thought to be by-products of colonial farming, are now understood as originating in pre-colonial ceremonial practices of Native Americans. Peter Waksman’s talk focuses on contributions to the new understanding made by people and locations in Acton and nearby towns. There has been a growing awareness […]

Free

Trail Through Time Community Service Day

This annual effort again takes place on the Trail Through Time, a multicultural heritage trail in the North Acton conservation lands. The focus will be on trail and site maintenance. There will be an optional brunch beforehand at Legend’s Cafe in West Acton at 11:30 AM. Closer to November 13, the meeting place and other […]

Free

Trail Through Time Community Service Day

This annual effort again takes place at the Nashoba Brook Conservation Land on the Trail Through Time, a multicultural heritage trail in North Acton. The focus will be on trail and site maintenance. There will be an optional brunch beforehand at 11:30 AM. Details will be emailed to registrants a few days in advance. Limited […]

Free