626 NEW YORK STATK MISI-.TM 



places 6 feet deep. Skeletons were found near (lie Iioum-. Tlie site 

 was excavated in upo for llie American Museum l)y I larrin<;"ton 

 and Parker. 



Shell heaps exist on nearly all the creeks in Oyster Bay township 

 and there is abundant evidence of aboriginal occupation. Grooved 

 stone axes and quartz projectile points are commonly found. 



Nev^ York County 



General occupation. At the time of the Dutch discovery Man- 

 hattan island was occupied by chiefs of the Delaware Indians not 

 associated with the Delaware confederacy. The principal divisions 

 \vere the Wickquaesgecks, who held the upper portion of the island 

 above Harlem Creek and Alanhattanville, and the Reckgawawanck, 

 who held the lower portion of the island. Each of these tribes also 

 occupied territory on the mainland where their larger villages were 

 situated. The Indians in the northern part of the island were a part 

 of the Siwanoy who belonged to the W^apanachi confederacy, which 

 of course was a part of the Mahikan group of Algonkin Indians. 

 The Reckgawawancks, whose chief in 1639 was Rechewack, had a 

 village of some size on the Bronx river, which was known to them 

 as the Acquehung. This village was named Ranachqua. One of 

 their larger camps or fishing places was at Montague's point, situ- 

 ated on the shore of Hell Gate bay, just off the present iioth street. 

 Another one of these shore camps was situated on the banks near 

 1 21 St street and Pleasant avenue or in the same locality. 



The chief village of the Wickquaesgecks was know'n as Nipni- 

 chsen. It was a stronghold situated on the top of Spuyten Duyvil 

 hill. This position is wdiere the present public school building 

 stands. Another settlement where considerable portion of these 

 people had their homes was in the sheltered valley along the shore of 

 the creek on the Dyckman tract, at Inwood. This general region was 

 highly favorable for aboriginal occupation, having both fertile soil 

 for raising maize and waters that provided sea food. Its high rock 

 cliffs permitted fortified positions, while the many waterways made 

 it possible for journeys to the surrounding countries. Not much has 

 been known of the archeology of Manhattan island until compara- 

 tively recently when the excavations of Reginald Pelham IJolton, 

 Alexander Chenoweth, \\\ L. Calver, James K. Finch, Dr E. H. 

 Hall, Alanson Skinner and others brought to light many relics from 

 shell heaps and refuse deposits. Most of the explorations date from 



