Fishweirs stakes discovered 32 feet below the surface during 1939 excavation for the New England Life Building in Boston, Massachusetts.

Our understanding of the ancient fishweirs has evolved over the past 90 years since the first discovery of wooden stakes during the excavation for the Arlington Street subway in Boston in 1913.

Fishweir discovery continued in 1939, with archeological investigation during foundation excavations for the New England Mutual Life Building in Boston's Back Bay.

Over the last 15 years, study of recovered fishweir stakes and associated sediments by archeologists using advanced radio-carbon dating and pollen sample analysis have refined our understanding of fishweir history.

To read more about the archeological background of fishweirs in Boston, click here.