Hinesburg
Prehistory
Hinesburg’s rich cultural history dates back thousands of years ago, when the first Native Americans traveled north along the rivers following the retreat of the glaciers. These first settlers were the Paleoindians, tribes that were nomadic and primarily hunters and gatherers. Following the Paleoindians were the tribes of the Woodland period, who began to cultivate the land in early forms of agriculture. The Abenaki Nation developed out of these woodland tribes. Archeological surveys in Hinesburg have turned up clay shards of pottery, stone arrowhead tips and woven fabrics in areas of town. Though most major settlements were along the major rivers, such as the LaPlatte and Winooski Rivers, and in the Champlain Valley, Native Americans likely passed through Hinesburg while hunting or seeking trade with other tribes.