Waquoit Bay Reserve, Massachusetts

Cultural History

Land and water areas within the reserve were presumably hunting and fishing areas for Native Americans. Stone flakes attesting to that use have been recovered from Washburn Island. The scarcity of artifacts may be the result of inundation of low-lying areas by sea level rise. According to the Mashpee Wampanoags, the People of the First Light, their people have been in this area "since time."

European settlers fished and farmed, and their descendants later built mills and cranberry bogs. In the early 1900's summer communities began along the coast. In recent years, the area has seen large growth in the year-round population; the summer season brings numerous additional visitors.