Do you ever wonder who was living on your piece of land over 800-1000 years ago?

Yep, all the time. I’m thinking American Indians, but not sure which tribe.

Considering North America was still pristine forest and grasslands when Europeans discovered it, I would guess that plant life and animals were inhabiting it.

I did when I was growing up, but learned in high school that my tree was uninhabited—it was covered by orchards for miles and miles through the early 1900s (if I am remembering correctly.) My city is quite young compared to the rest of the region. There may have been nomadic passersby, but nothing was officially founded for a long, long time.

Still, it’s interesting to think of how drastically a region can change over the course of a few centuries.

When Giovanni da Verrazzano “discovered” the New York harbor in 1524 there were Lenape Indians living all over this area.
In 1626 a subset of them who called themselves the Manhattoes sold the island now known as Manhattan to Dutch settlers.

That goes back only 500 years or so, and I do wonder who might have been here 1000 years ago or farther back…

According to the Los Angeles Almanac, the Tongva (Gabrielino) Native Americans had been living here for 2000–3000 years before the European invasion:

“According to research by Dr. Harry Kelsey of the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, Governor de Neve, six months prior to the establishment of the Los Angeles pueblo in 1781, had undertaken preliminary diplomacy with the Tongva (Gabrielino) Indians at the Yangna settlement (located on what is now the Los Angeles Civic Center). This was to develop friendly relations with the local people before Spanish settlers began moving into the area. Yangna was a favorite native trading center. Governor de Neve arranged for the baptisms of dozens of Yangna residents and even assumed the role of padrino (godparent) for 12 persons. One of the couples sponsored by de Neve, being baptized and remarried, even assumed the names Felipe de Neve and Felipa de Neve. Dr. Kelsey believes that de Neve might have been grooming this couple to serve as a nucleus family for a Christian Indian settlement that he had envisioned. This was not to happen, however, when de Neve was replaced by Pedro de Fages later that year. Sadly, in 1828, a German immigrant purchased the land upon which Yangna lay and, with the help of Mexican officials, evicted the entire community that had been living there for perhaps two to three thousand years.”

Thre’s no evidence that the plot of land I live on was inhabited more than 70 years ago but there was a bronze age settlement (2500–800BC) about five miles away. They probably hunted here.

Last May I was doing the grunt work (to save money) for over 800 square feet of paving stones project around our house. It required excavating and removal of 6 inches of rock and soil mix over the entire area. I needed to separate the soil from the racks for another project so I sifted all of the material through a screen. In the process I found several rock artifacts (perhaps hand held scrapers) that looked very much like they were make by primitive humans. I was quickly caught up in my own little archeological dig as I wondered what I may find next. That inquisitiveness pushed me to keep working. I also found a lot of modern day items (weird electrical parts, nails, bolts, bear cans, coins, cigarette packages and more. But I really had to stop to wonder of all of the people who were here before me and wonder if anyone in the distant future will feel my presence.

@flip86 native Americans actually planted trees of the forest in such a way that drove migrating animals in a fashion that made hunting easy

I hardly every wonder, because I have been to the local Native American museums regularly and I have seen the maps of the dwellings. I live close to a very popular stream, which was full of fish in those days, and lots of turkeys and other food birds, plus tons of rabbits, fox, deer, bear, and wolves.

There were also fields full of edible grasses, seeds and berries. The wood and reeds that grow along the stream were perfect for making huts and baskets. The rocks were perfect for grinding the plentiful acorns into flour, and many of the grinding rocks are scattered around my local area.

I don’t wonder. I know. We keep very good records around here. (Mainly for tax reasons).

Yes, history fascinates me so I wonder stuff like this all the time. I am currently reading The History of England (Volume 1 Foundation) by Peter Ackroyd which starts with England’s really ancient history, the first paragraph explains how flint artefacts were found in a village near Norfolk that were believed to have been scattered 900,000 years ago. That blows my mind.

I live very close to Stonehenge so there is a lot of history surrounding these parts!

@Leanne1986 I have visited that part of the country a few times and I love it. Stonehenge is interesting but Woodhenge interests me much more.

I live close to this site. The Mississippian culture inhabited the area where I live now.

I’m guessing my land was probably just hunting ground. There’s no year round water supply but there is a stream and a river within a short distance. Upstate NY so I’d guess Oneidas, Iroquois, or another member of the 5 tribes.

I guess natives don’t know which tribe.
Would be cool if Battle Star Galactica;s people lived here… according to the end of season four they all landed on primitive Earth.
Besides that I guess native American Indians.

In Germany there are Celtic excavation sites almost everywhere. An plenty of Roman ones south of the limes, which runs through Germany. So, yes.