Ward's Point, Archaeological site in Tottenville, US.
Ward's Point is an archaeological site at the southern tip of New York State, on the shoreline of Raritan Bay in the Tottenville neighborhood of Staten Island. The site lies entirely within Conference House Park and consists of deep layers of shell deposits, stone tools, and other remains left by successive generations of inhabitants.
Indigenous communities began living at this location around 8000 years ago and used it continuously as a home and burial ground over many generations. Formal excavations began in the mid-1800s, when researchers first documented the layers of remains that had built up over time.
The site served as a long-term settlement and burial place for indigenous peoples who left behind layers of shells, tools, and remains that tell the story of their lives here. This heritage remains central to understanding the region's first inhabitants and their connection to the bay.
The site is reached on foot through Conference House Park, which has clearly marked paths that lead toward the water. The ground is uneven and largely natural, so sturdy footwear is a good idea before heading out.
Excavations at the site turned up human skeletons with stone arrowheads still lodged in the bone, pointing to violent conflict among the area's early inhabitants. This kind of physical evidence of prehistoric fighting is rarely found in such clear condition in the northeastern US.
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