Pilgrim Heights and High Head sites - North Truro

High Head bifaces
High Head bifaces

National Park Service photo

Another concentration of ancient sites is located at High Head in Truro. There are many archaeological sites in this area, however, most of them lack the dense deposits of trash that archeologists associate with permanent settlements. Ancient inhabitants were using the High Head area regularly from at least 5,000 years ago, but the activities seem to have been relatively short-term, perhaps specialized hunting or gathering of material or food that grew naturally in the area. Camps probably were set up to carry out these specialized activities and briefly occupied for short periods of a few days or weeks. The ancient archaeological sites in this area are relatively small and covered by soil and vegetation. Archaeological deposits consist mainly of discarded stone tools, stone fragments broken off when tools were resharpened or maintained in other ways, and stone used for heating in cooking or campfires. The area can be visited via the Small's Swamp and Pilgrim Spring trails beginning at the Pilgrim Spring parking area, off Route 6, North Truro.

Francis P. McManamon, National Park Service

Last updated: October 31, 2017

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99 Marconi Site Road
Wellfleet, MA 02667

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508-255-3421
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