Our History

Our history section  begins with a look at our ancestors before colonial contact. We will be building on our history as time goes on.  Please come back to learn more as our website continues to grow:

Before Colonial Contact (10,000 BC to Early Colonial Contact)

12,000 Years ago: The territory of Chaubunagungamaug was first inhabited by what are now called "Paleo Indians". These people travelled and lived in family groups, hunting the animals that inhabited the subarctic environment. Descendants of these first settlers became what is now known as the Algonquian family, in which the Nipmuck tribe is included, among many others.

Stash of Paleoindian Artifacts Found at 12,000-Year-Old Connecticut Site

7,000 to 500 BC

As the climate gradually warmed, new plants and animals appeared, reflecting changes in human culture and lifestyle. Nipmuck people began to visit certain territories on a systematic basis, ate a wide variety of plants and animals, and developed an advanced system of agriculture and herbal pharmacology. They also produced a wide variety of stone bowls and tools and implemented a complex writing system of symbols and designs.

500 BC

The introduction of pottery signified the beginning of a new period. Major villages were established along the major lakes and rivers. The bulk of the Nipmuck population was concentrated along the Quinebaug, Blackstone (Nipmuck), Quabaug, and Nashua rivers. The "Three Sisters" were introduced (corn beans and squash), the bow and arrow supplemented the use of spears, and a spiritually centered lifestyle harmoniously integrated the people, animals, elements and environment into a balanced ecosystem.

Coming Next Revision: Early Colonial Contact