Woodland Indians - 1,500 BC to 1,500 AD

Little evidence of Woodland Indians is found at Ferry Farm. While the surrounding county boasts major village sites from this period, Ferry Farm has only a light scatter of material, indicating less intensive visitation. This group is known for inventing the bow-and-arrow, introducing clay pottery, and further developing the role of agriculture. Two unusual finds at Ferry Farm from the Woodland period include a gaming piece and a stone bead.

Woodland Indian village
Woodland Indian fortified village. Engraving by Theodor de Bry
after a watercolor by Jacques Le Moyne, 1591.

Chunkey Stone ~ This modified stone was used in a game played by American Indians living in the southeastern United States. The game was played by two contestants, each with a wooden pole. One player would roll the stone. Just as it was about to stop, both players threw their poles toward the stone, each aiming to land his pole closest to the stone. There is no evidence that this game was played by tribes local to the Ferry Farm area. Chunkey Stones date from 1170 AD to the colonial era.

Stone Bead ~ This bead is made of porous sandstone, causing it to be very light for its size. The size of this bead suggests it may have been part of a ceremonial necklace or other adornment. The bead most likely dates to between 1000 AD and the early 1600s.

Pottery
Pottery ~ The only pit at Ferry Farm that has been excavated that originated in the Woodland period is a storage pit containing two ceramic vessels, one placed on top of the other. Now broken into hundreds of pieces, these vessels will ultimately be glued back together.

Distribution map of Woodland points ~ A light scatter of stone spear and arrow points from the Woodland period has been found at Ferry Farm.