The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
OIN HISTORICAL SITE
Archeological digs at Nichols Pond uncovered grain pits with held remnants of Oneidas’ distinctive hard-hulled corn
People learned more about the historical significance of Madison Countyowned Nichols Pond Sunday as they walked the grounds on which an Iroquois fort stood 400 years ago.
Historians believe it to be the site where Samuel de Champlain and Huron Native Americans battled the Iroquois Nation in 1615.
The program was part of Madison County’s Archives Day.
Matthew Urtz, Madison County historian, said at least four archeological studies have been conducted on the site revealing Native American artifacts including pipes with bear and bird heads, pottery and buttons. Evidence was unearthed that pointed to existence of palisades — walls that were built by erecting double rows of interconnecting vertical posts. According to Urtz, these were believed to serve as observation platforms and defensive battle posts.
There are serval places within Nichols Pond Park in which the remains of grain pits — community storage cellars for corn, bean and squash were found.
Ron Patterson, cultural coordinator of the Oneida Nation’s Shako:wi Cultural Center said that some of the corn thatwas in the grain pits had a distinctive hard hull. The hull allowed the corn to last longer, but the process of preparing it was quite different than other corns.
Patterson said that some of the corn grown by the Oneidas was requested by Gen. George Washington to feed troop during the Revolutionary War. The problem was they did not know how to prepare it.
Patterson said Chief Shenandoah sent a party of Oneidas to Valley Forge, Pa. with hundreds of bushels of white corn to help feed Washington’s starving troops in the cruel winter of 1777-78. The relief party walked more than 400 miles through the bitter cold.
The corn they brought was white — the variety grown by the Oneida people, but it required extended preparation before it could be eaten. Patterson said that the corn had to be boiled in a large pot that had several cups of ash added to it. Without the addition of ash, you could boil this corn over 24-hours and its texture would not change.
It took several washings of the corn with the ash boiling process to make it able to be eaten. Patterson said that Polly Cooper was sent to show Washington’s troops how to prepare and eat the corn.
Henry Marshall, a junior at Colgate University and an intern with the Upstate Institute, spent a significant amount of time studying the archeology that has been done on Nichols Pond site. These studies sought to determine if Nichols Pond was the location of Samuel de Champlain’s attack on the Iroquois. “Not only is this site important for local and state history, it is important for national history as well,” Marshall said.
Putting timelines into perspective, Marshall said that Champlain arrived almost a century after Co- lumbus arrived in the New World. Champlain was commissioned by the French to search for the Northern Seas and make allies with the St. Lawrence Indians to lead a campaign against the Iroquois people. “The Battle of Nichols Pond was significant because if Champlain had won, we might be speaking French today,” Marshall said. “Nichols Pond really represents a defining time in our nation’s history”.
While there is some that dispute that Nichols Pond is the site of this infamous battle, Marshall said from his research it likely happened in this area. “We may never know exactly where it was but the evidence is overwhelming,” he said.
Russ Cary, chairman of the Madison County Parks Commission took visitors on a tour of the park and noted the many spots of historic significance. A small fenced in area represents a portion of the site where a burial ground was found. Remains of bodies in fetal positions were discovered in this location but Cary said that because of the numerous uses of the site, the exact date of the burial site could not be concluded.
According to Cary, archeological studies also concluded that there was a longhouse on the site in close proximity to the burial site. As new members were added, additions to the longhouse were made. The eldest members would occupy the front portion of the longhouse — closest to the fire.
Cary pointed out numerous historic markers and signs that tell the story of Nichols Pond and also of the Champlain Battle regardless of its location. Also on site is what is called the Oneida Stone; tribal lore says the stone was a sacred meeting site that would appear in various places for the Oneidas, who are called the “People of the Standing (or Upright) Stone.”
Cary encouraged area residents to plan a visit to this County-owned park where individuals and families can take a scenic walk on a wetlands trail and experience the quiet life of nature, while also walking on the grounds that are believed to hold significant national history.