Galilee Salt Marsh

History

How did the Native Americans use the salt marsh?

Native Americans planted crops in the grasslands along the coast and summer camps were set up to catch, dry, and store fish and shellfish for the winter. Summer camp refuse heaps have been found to contain oysters, quahogs, soft shell clams, mussels, scallops, and surf clams. Salt marsh grass was used to feed and provide bedding for animals and to top the haystacks.

Native Americans, mainly the Narragansett Indians harvested fish and shellfish during the spring and summer months at coastal inlets, like the Galilee salt marsh. They lived in temporary villages along the coast, then moved further inland to their main village as the seasons changed to fall and winter.