Harvard students uncover Martha’s Vineyard history

Some significant details emerged from the items uncovered by Harvard archaeology students at a dig on Martha’s Vineyard in 1999. For instance, the site has been used by humans much longer than archaeologists first expected. A stone spear tip indicated the spot was inhabited by humans as long as 10,000 years ago — just 1,000 years after humans were known to have inhabited New England and long enough in the past that Martha’s Vineyard was still connected to the mainland. “I think what makes the fluted point a ‘major find’ is that it demonstrates that this has been a special site for Native Americans for the past 10,000 years!” said Harvard researcher Elizabeth Chilton. “Few sites in New England show such consistent use over time.”