Assabet River NWR Final CCP - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Chapter 3: Refuge and Resource Descriptions
back into the interior sections may be the result of introduction of
agriculture and the suitability of the inland soil to sustain the new
subsistence mode.
Within the Assabet River NWR, there are a variety of environmental zones
that represent areas of both high and low natural resource potential. Puffer
Pond and the complex of streams and wetlands associated with it is the
most clear general zone of high natural resource potential (Hudson 1889;
Ritchie 1980; Hoffman 1983). This pond, along with Willis Pond, is one of
the few natural lakes or ponds in the western portion of the town of
Sudbury (Gallagher et. al. 1986). It is directly connected to the Assabet
River by Taylor brook. Large areas of marsh and wooded wetlands,
extending the entire length of Taylor Brook form the outlet at the north
end of Puffer Pond to the confluence with the Assabet River, would have
been excellent habitat for a variety of waterfowl, fur-bearing mammals, and
other species exploited by Native Americans.
The central portion of the refuge contains several large areas of wooded
wetlands covering several hundred acres. These wetlands will have
provided seasonally concentrated natural resources suitable to winter
camps for humans. One prehistoric site has been located in the central
wetland portion of the refuge, and with further testing, several more will
likely be found.
The elevated, rocky hills within the refuge will have provided another type
of environment for humans to utilize. This area will have sustained
deciduous forest which will have provided habitat for deer, bear, raccoon
and bobcat, as well as acorns, chestnuts and hickory nuts. Five prehistoric
sites have been identified through limited archaeological testing (Gallagher
et. al. 1986). Most likely more sites located in this environment
representing all the major time periods within Native American history will
be identified. Assabet River NWR offers a wide variety of environmental
zones ideal for Native American settlement throughout history. This area
was a cultural focus of the Merrimack River Basin. The limited
archaeological studies completed, have revealed prehistoric archaeological
sites in all of the various refuge environments (Gallagher et. al. 1986). The
refuge should be considered highly sensitive for such cultural resources.
The refuge has the potential to contribute information that is significant in
understanding Native American settlement patterns and environmental
uses for this region of Massachusetts.
Historic Period
Europeans began to settle the refuge area around 1650. In the beginning,
there were conflicts with the existing Native American groups. These
groups had been decimated by diseases and were beginning to become
concentrated in Christian Indian settlements. All English settlements
were affected by King Philip’s War in 1675, but after the War, with Native
Comprehensive Conservation Plan - 39 -