Stone projectile | Archaic period

1967.501.1

Long before Europeans first landed in North America, the Natick area was home to communities of people who alternated hunting and agriculture with seasonal fishing. 

This tiny, sharp projectile, found in 1967 at Badger Farm in Natick, was made more than 5,000 years ago. It is evidence of the people who lived in this area for millennia.

Natick’s history began long before 1651 and the Natick Historical Society’s collection includes many stone artifacts from Natick that have been identified by archaeologists as being from the Archaic period (8,000-3,000 years ago) or from the Early Woodland Period, when agriculture was introduced (3,000-1,800 years ago). These include projectile points, pestles, plummets (weights for fishing nets), and other artifacts.

To learn more about Natick’s history pre-colonization visit the Natick History Timeline HERE.