Existing comment:
Native Americans
First Inhabitants of the Patapsco Valley:
The Late Archaic (8000 to 1000 BC) and the Woodland Indians (1000 BC to AD 1600) found the vast forests along the Patapsco abundant with black bear, panther, elk buffalo, beaver, bobcat, turkey, game birds, rabbit, squirrel and deer. The river churned with plentiful schools of herring, shad and rockfish. The tidal portion of the river provided clams, oysters, shrimp and crabs.
Susquehannocks fought Piscataways to claim these rich hunting, fishing and gathering lands.
Since the valley never belong to any one tribe's territory, no permanent villages were established here. The river's landmarks guided them for trading and seasonal hunting. Many campsites have been found along the Patapsco River.
The word "Patapsco" (1666) is from the Algonquin tongue and means "backwater" or "tide covered with froth." It also means "rocky point" referring to white limestone rocks in the river near Rock Creek and the Chesapeake Bay. |