Rumford Archaeological Sites facts for kids

The Rumford Archaeological Sites are a group of ancient Native American places. They are found near the Androscoggin River in Rumford, Maine. These six special sites help us understand how Native Americans lived. They show us how people moved and what they did from about 7,000 years BCE. This time is called the early Archaic period. The sites also show us life up to the Late Woodland period and when Europeans first arrived.

These sites are so important that they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. They were added in 1972. The sites are known by three names on the list: the Rumford Falls I-IV Sites, the Rumford V Site, and the Town of Rumford Site. To protect these valuable places, their exact locations are kept secret.

Exploring the Rumford Falls Sites

Let's learn about some of the amazing discoveries made at these sites. Each one tells a unique story about the past.

Rumford Falls I: An Ancient Home

This site is known as Maine Survey Number 49.24. It sits on a flat area above the river. Luckily, it has not been disturbed by farming. This means the layers of soil are still in place. Scientists found many things here from the Archaic period. Some finds even date back to the very early Archaic time. They found stone tools that came from Mount Jasper. This mountain is in Berlin, New Hampshire.

Rumford Falls II: Pottery Treasures

This site, Maine Survey Number 49.25, is right on the riverbanks. Most of the items found here are from the Woodland period. The site has many layers, showing different times within the Woodland period. Researchers found ten very good quality ceramic pots here. The number and quality of these pots are the best in this whole area. Not many stone tools were found at this site. The style of the pottery matches other finds from the Early and Middle Woodland Periods.

Rumford Falls III: Signs of Shelter

You can find this site, Maine Survey Number 49.26, on a flat area above the river. One interesting feature here is a dip in the ground. This might be a sign of an old house pit, where people once lived. Most of the items found were fire-cracked rocks. These are stones that were heated in fires. Stone tools made from material from Mount Jasper were also found. This site also dates back to the Woodland period.

Rumford Falls IV: A Busy Archaic Spot

This site, Maine Survey Number 49.27, has many layers of history. It mainly dates to the Archaic period. However, there is also proof that people used it later. An open fireplace was found here, dating back to about 5,000 BCE. Stone tools from Mount Jasper were also discovered. This site is one of the highest above the river. It was used a lot during the Middle Archaic period.

Rumford Falls V: The Oldest Clues

Known as Maine Survey Number 49.28, this site also dates to the Archaic period. But, like some others, it shows signs of later use. This site has the oldest dates found in this group of sites. It also has many layers that show important changes in the environment over time. Researchers found a workshop area here where tools were made. Stone tools from Mount Jasper were also found at this location.

The Town of Rumford Site: A Clear Picture of Life

The Town of Rumford Site, Maine Survey Number 49.20, is from the Woodland period. It has a very clear area where people lived. This site is very important because it shows at least two different times when people lived there. These periods are clearly separated in the ground layers. They are about 500 years apart!

Before this site was studied, similar pottery found in other places was grouped together. But the finds here made it possible to tell the difference between them. This site helps us understand how Native American life changed over time. However, the site is slowly being worn away by erosion, especially when the river water is very high.