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Under the Shad Moon, Chwame Gischuch • Lenape New Year

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April 18,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

River Edge NJ, The Bergen County Historical Society celebrates:

  • Under the Shad Moon, Chwame Gischuch, the Lenape New Year, from 1-5 pm. Sunday, April 22, 2018
    Historic New Bridge Landing, 1201 Main Street, River Edge 07661.

1:30 pm: Dr. Meta Janowitz who will speak on Native American food ways, as they relate to the Dutch. She will introduce ceramic forms that were used by the Dutch and traded with the Native Americans. Janowitz is an archaeologist who worked on the African Burial Ground Project in lower Manhattan**.

2:30 pm: Primitive Technologist Steve Adams will give a talk on The Material Culture of Prehistory. Adams will talk on the use of stone tools; their manufacture (flintknapping), forms for different functions, re-usage/resharpening sequences, the ‘waste flake’ pile of expedient tools and the changing stone tool forms through time.
He will discuss the working of plant fiber; its manufacture, the different native species used, the impressively large range of purposes and functions it served, its ‘invisible’ nature as an organic medium which does not preserve well as an artifact, its foundational value as having ‘tied’ together the prehistoric world, etc. the selection of local plants would also anchor it in the location and the event. His talk will move outside to demonstrate flintknapping.
This talk will offer an informed glimpse into the ‘hardware’ of prehistoric peoples – not just those of the New Bridge region, but internationally – this is part of every person’s ancient lineage.

Selections from the BCHS Native American collections are on exhibit. Visit the outkitchen where reenactors will be cooking over a fire. The event includes activities for children.

** The African Burial Ground project began in 1991. During excavation work for a new federal office building workers discovered the skeletal remains of the first of more than 400 men, women and children.

Historic New Bridge Landing: American Revolutionary War Battleground including 3 Jersey-Dutch Sandstone Houses, Exhibits of BCHS collections, Tavern, Gift shop, Outkitchen & Barn. (The barn closed in cold weather) $12 adults, $7 students, BCHS members free. (Become a member and support our efforts!, $20 individual / $30 household).
HNBL, 1201 Main St., River Edge, NJ. Site map below.

All 3 sandstone houses, including the Steuben House, a state historic site, are connected by an ADA compliant gravel walking path. Weather permitting the Westervelt-Thomas Barn will be open. Free parking is available or take a train on the Pascack Valley Line from Secaucus via NJ Transit to the “New Bridge Landing” train stop. Walk one block north & east. By car, HNBL is only 7 miles from the GWB.
Refreshments in the 18th century tavern (additional cost)