Boston is celebrated for its long and storied history going back to when English Puritans settled the Shawmut Peninsula and gave it the name Boston in 1630. And yet, 97% of Boston’s human history occurred before 1630.  In this tour we will learn about the Native peoples who first walked here up to 12,000 years ago by exploring several archaeological sites in the Greater Boston region.  From material culture uncovered by archaeologists we can learn about how Native peoples hunted, fished, created ceramics, made decorative arts, and even traded with people who lived hundreds of miles away. We will also learn of their encounters with the first European explorers and settlers in the area and the Shawmut Peninsula became the town of Boston.