Amsterdam in Montgomery County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Chuctanunda Terrace Site
Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor
— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —
Native Americans have been visiting the site for nearly 5,000 years, drawn to this location by the rich resources of the Mohawk River and the Chuctanunda Creek North, and the animals and plants that flourished on their banks.
The site was visited most frequently between 3,500 and 3,000 years ago, by people who made what archaeologists call Snook Kill and Orient Fishtail-type projectile points. These people did not have the ceramic pots of later cultures, but the stone tools they left behind tell us that daily activities at the site probably consisted of fishing in the river, collecting plants and nuts, and hunting game and processing the hides.
Around AD1300 to 1500, the site was visited by Mohawk Indians, who left behind fragments of their distinctive incised pottery, triangular arrow points, and other artifacts. Few artifacts attributable to the Mohawks were found, so the site does not appear to be a large village like the ones found west of Amsterdam. Instead, it is more likely the site served the same function as it did much earlier, possibly an encampment visited by just a few people on hunting, fishing, or gathering excursions away from the main village.
Erected 2016 by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Native Americans. A significant historical year for this entry is 1300.
Location. 42° 56.164′ N, 74° 11.638′ W. Marker is in Amsterdam, New York, in Montgomery County. Marker can be reached from Bridge Street. The marker is at the north end of the $17.5 million Mohawk Valley Gateway Overlook Pedestrian Bridge, which was officially opened Wednesday Aug. 31, 2016 in Amsterdam, NY. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Amsterdam NY 12010, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Donato (Dan) Persico, Chief T/M (approx. 0.2 miles away); 5th Ward War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Sweet Canal Store (approx. ¼ mile away); "Mother Lake" (approx. ¼ mile away); Sanford Mansion (approx. 0.3 miles away); Green Hill Cemetery (approx. 0.4 miles away); Kirk Douglas (approx. ¾ mile away); Pvt. Frank J. Sirchia Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Amsterdam.
Also see . . .
1. Firm to search for artifacts that date back 5,000 years along Mohawk River. Daily Gazette news article, 2012 (Submitted on November 19, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. National Park Service website entry (Submitted on November 19, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Additional keywords. Amsterdam Pedestrian Bridge
Credits. This page was last revised on November 19, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 3, 2016, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. This page has been viewed 562 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 3, 2016, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 5. submitted on September 7, 2016, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.