Great Falls in Fairfax County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

American Indians of the Potomac River

Riverbend Park

— Potomac River Gorge Interpretive Trail —

American Indians of the Potomac River Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 10, 2013

1. American Indians of the Potomac River Marker

Inscription. Prehistoric people arrived along the shores of the Potomac River some 13,000 years ago. Slowly they transformed from semi-nomadic hunters into farmers and fishermen. Eventually, a group called the Nacotchtanks became the dominant tribe of the Washington D.C. area.

The Potomac River was a heavily traveled trade route by American Indians. In fact the word Nacotchtank translates to mean “at the trading town.”

Erected by Fairfax County Park Authority.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Indigenous Peoples and Communities.

Location. 39° 1.073′ N, 77° 14.734′ W. Marker is in Great Falls, Virginia, in Fairfax County. It can be reached from Potomac Hills Street 0.6 miles east of Jeffery Road. Marker is along the Potomac Heritage Trail in Riverbend Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8700 Potomac Hills Street, Great Falls VA 22066, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern Virginia.

It is also in

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the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: River Crossing at Conn's Ferry (within shouting distance of this marker); Potomac Connections (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to Great Falls (approx. 1.2 miles away in Maryland); Washington Aqueduct (approx. 1.2 miles away in Maryland); Great Falls Tavern (approx. 1.2 miles away in Maryland); a different marker also named Great Falls Tavern (approx. 1.2 miles away in Maryland); Creating a National Park (approx. 1.3 miles away in Maryland); A Geologic Barrier (approx. 1.4 miles away in Maryland). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Great Falls.

Other markers no longer nearby. A Lift Lock

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 10, 2013

2. American Indians of the Potomac River Marker

(was approx. 1.2 miles away in Maryland but has been confirmed missing); Boats Passing By (was approx. 1.2 miles away in Maryland but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . .
1. Nacotchtank. in Wikipedia. (Submitted on April 11, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)

2. Ancient Washington. American Indian Cultures of the Potomac Valley, Humphrey and Chambers, GWU. (Submitted on April 11, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)

3. The Artifacts of the Potomac Valley Indians (pdf file). by Titus Ulke, American Anthropologist,, Volume 31, Issue 1, January-March 1929, Pages 122-129. (Submitted on April 11, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)

American Indians of the Potomac River image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 10, 2013

3. American Indians of the Potomac River

Drawing by L. Napier

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 10, 2013

4. American Indians of the Potomac River

Drawing by L. Napier

American Indian Lodge image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 10, 2013

5. American Indian Lodge

Drawing by L. Napier

American Indians making Dug-out canoes image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 10, 2013

6. American Indians making Dug-out canoes

Drawing by L. Napier

Dug-out Canoe image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 10, 2013

7. Dug-out Canoe

In the Park Visitors Center

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 10, 2013

8. Dug-out Canoe

In the Park Visitors Center

Dug-out Canoe sign<br>in the Vistors Center image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 10, 2013

9. Dug-out Canoe sign
in the Vistors Center

This dug out canoe is the same style used by Virginia Indians. Traveling by canoe allowed Virginia Indians to fish and trade with other tribes throughout the Chesapeake Bay region.

Indians Fishing image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 10, 2013

10. Indians Fishing

Water color by John White, painted in 1585-6, illustrating the use of dug-out canoes, in the vistors center.

Arrow Points image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 10, 2013

11. Arrow Points

for sale in the park visitors center

Jasper Arrowheads Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 10, 2013

12. Jasper Arrowheads Sign

These Jasper arrowheads are replicas. Jasper is a type of rock found west of Riverbend Park. Thousands of years ago Native Americans transported jasper for tool making and trade.
.95 each

Arrow Points<br>used by Potomac Valley Indians image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne

13. Arrow Points
used by Potomac Valley Indians

Plate 9, from Ulke, 1929

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 10, 2013

14. Map

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Credits. This page was last revised on September 21, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 11, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 5,712 times since then and 145 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. submitted on April 11, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.