Hockomock Swamp facts for kids

The Hockomock Swamp is a huge wetland in southeastern Massachusetts. It covers about 16,950 acres (6,860 hectares), making it the largest freshwater swamp in the state. This amazing natural area helps control floods in the region.

History of the Hockomock Swamp

During the 1600s, the Hockomock Swamp was a very important place for the Wampanoag people. They were the main native tribe living there. The swamp acted like a natural fort, helping them defend against early English settlers.

It played a big role in King Philip's War. The Wampanoag leader, Metacomet (also known as King Philip), used the swamp as a secret base. From there, he launched attacks on nearby English settlements.

Early Settlers and the Swamp

In the 1700s and 1800s, European-American settlers thought the swamp was useless land. They tried to drain it and turn it into farms. Reverend William L. Chaffin, a historian from Easton, was one of the first people to suggest draining the swamp.

However, the native people of the area saw the swamp very differently. For hundreds of years, they had hunted there for food. The swamp was a sacred place for them. They named it Hockomock, which means "place where spirits dwell" in the Algonquin language. Besides providing food, parts of the swamp were also used as sacred burial grounds.

Sometimes, the Hockomock is called the Hobomock. The Wampanoag people respected and feared Hobomock (also known as Hobbamock). This was a powerful spirit linked to death and illness. People believed that Hobomock, made of the souls of the dead, gathered in places like the Hockomock. Because of this, the names Hockomock and Hobomock became mixed up by non-natives when talking about the swamp or the spirit.

Many stories and legends are connected to the swamp. Even today, some people still see it as a mysterious and even scary place. People interested in paranormal events consider the Hockomock Swamp to be part of the "Bridgewater Triangle."

Discoveries in the Hockomock Swamp

Scientists have found very important old artifacts in and around the Hockomock Swamp, especially near the Taunton River. These discoveries date back to the Early Archaic Period in North America. This period was about 9,000 to 8,000 years ago.

Archaeological Sites

From 1745 to 1951, a group called the Warren K. Moorehead Chapter of the Massachusetts Archaeological Society worked at a place called the Titicut site. Dr. Maurice Robbins led this work. The Titicut Site is located along the Taunton River in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

They found thousands of artifacts there! These items showed how people lived from the Early Archaic period up to about 400 years ago. They found old fireplaces, storage pits, and even the floor of a rectangular lodge. They also found special red paint used in ceremonies.

One exciting discovery was the Taunton River Bifurcate, a type of Arrowhead. They found thirteen of these points, which were used for hunting large animals. Another nearby place, the Nunkatusset River Site, also had Bifurcated points. This river flows from Lake Nippenicket through the Hockomock Swamp.

Environment and Wildlife

The Hockomock Swamp is part of the Northeastern coastal forests ecoregion (a large area with similar plants and animals). It stretches across six towns in Massachusetts: Bridgewater, Easton, Norton, Raynham, Taunton, and West Bridgewater.

Rare Plants and Animals

At least 13 rare and endangered species of plants and animals live in the Hockomock. These include:

• The Long's bulrush (a type of plant)
• The ringed boghaunter dragonfly
• The gypsywort (another plant)
• The Blanding's turtle
• The round-fruited false-loosestrife (a plant)
• The two-flowered bladderwort (a plant)
• The blue-spotted salamander
• The spotted turtle
• The Mystic Valley amphipod (a tiny creature)
• The chain fern borer moth
• The Plymouth gentian (a flower)
• The eastern box turtle
• The common barn owl

The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (Massachusetts) owns about 5,000 acres of the swamp. This area is called the Hockomock Swamp Wildlife Management Area. It allows the public to visit and enjoy nature. You can go hunting, fishing, boating, canoeing, swimming, or just watch and study the plants and animals.

The swamp has many different types of natural areas. These include oak-conifer forests, grassy fields, wetlands, swamps with trees, and areas with shrubs. It's also a resting spot for birds that migrate (travel long distances).

Protecting the Swamp

Most of the Hockomock Swamp has stayed wild and undeveloped. This is thanks to many years of efforts to protect the environment. In 1971, soon after the United States Environmental Protection Agency was created, a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, John Ames, shared important information about the swamp.

Mr. Ames was a strong supporter of protecting nature. He made sure the Hockomock was protected by law. He even gave every lawmaker a pamphlet called "Hockomock: Wonder Wetland." This pamphlet included writings by Kathleen Anderson, who was the Director of the Manomet Bird Observatory, and Ted Williams, who was an editor for "Massachusetts Wildlife" magazine.

Because of these efforts, the Hockomock Swamp system was officially named an Area of Critical Environmental Concern in 1990. This means it's a very special place that needs to be protected.