Former Nahant librarian talks local Native American history

NAHANT – Residents from the island across the causeway only think they live in a town called Nahant, but according to former Nahant librarian Dan DeStefano, they actually inhabit an old Native American territory called Saugus. There?s no need to change the ZIP code or switch the town border signs, however. DeStefano said that, when dealing with Native American history, there?s a limited amount that archaeologists know for sure, since most of it was recorded by colonists with a misguided view of tribal politics and customs. But in a lecture at the Nahant Public Library, the archaeology buff said that the town we now called Nahant was once one of six districts owned by Chief Nanepashemet, or “The Great Sachem.”Using examples from a 500-piece collection of Native American artifacts donated to the library in 1925, DeStefano gave his audience on Tuesday night a closer look at the lifestyle of a tribe. The artifacts included tools shaped from rocks – some from Nahant, others not, and still others untraceable.?I could be holding a 6,000- year-old stone,” he said, showing an object he said was used as a garden tool as he explained how dating the stones was difficult because of the lack of organic matter. None of the pieces on his table could be traced within 1,000 years, he said.Other artifacts of note included a knife, a spearhead and an all-purpose grinding stone, as DeStefano gave insight into the technology of the day and how tribes used it to conquer one another to claim wanted goods like ceremonial beads and sumac berries.DeStefano may not be an archaeologist, but he puts his passion where his mouth is. During his lecture, he revealed the secret to Native Americans getting their vitamins during the cold winter season. They would boil sumac berries and add molasses to make “Indian lemonade,” which DeStefano said he made himself after reading about it.?I don?t know if they knew about Vitamin C, but they sure knew what tasted good,” he laughed.Members of DeStefano?s audience claimed they had found artifacts of their own in Nahant. Nancy Wilson said she found some while digging up topsoil during the construction of her home. DeStefano said diggers would most likely find fishing tools since Nahant was used as a fishing site and campground. “It is where you find it, laying around,” said DeStefano.But DeStefano warned, like Native American written history, it would be difficult to tell what it was for sure.?You?re looking at skeletons, and you can only surmise so much from skeletons,” he said.