The Pennacook and other Abenaki peoples used the Merrimack as a main route through what is now New Hampshire, with paths following the river and its falls.
New Hampshire has only our 1836 baseline map. What sources map the state's Native paths in detail?
"In detail" is the pickle! My 'jumping off point" were the maps by Chester B. Price: "Historic Indian Trails of New Hampshire, 1958" and "Indian Trails, The Lakes Region of New Hampshire, 1956". While the maps depict pathways and name the Woodland Indian tribes and do generally follow today's roadways, the lines are not exact enough for my purposes, nor time frame. I am specifically interested in the exact route the early Paleo and Archaic (6000 - 9000+ yrs ago) Indians took between Hebron, NH and Hill, NH thru my town, Alexandria, as they traveled on foot between the Connecticut River and the Pemigewasset River just south of Bristol NH. I've employed LiDar; Surficial Geology maps from NH Geological Survey; water/lake/river locations and topography from thousands of years ago; historical records, etc. My research includes 'feet on the ground' once my study leads me to investigate. To date I believe to have finally, at least, found the original Paleo water crossing of the water that has since become the Smith River between Danbury and Bristol. It is where there was, back then, a very narrow bit of land in between where there was an East/West slow melting glacier and an enormous glacial Lake Franklin that covered all of what is now Bristol, NH. These Paleo routes were the precursors to the more recent Woodland Indian trails. As the land and water locations changed drastically and dynamically over the eons, people naturally changed their routes along with it. There are indications of Paleo habitation along the ancient route. I find this study endlessly interesting, and frustrating!! In fact, I am unable to travel anywhere in my area without my 'mind's eye' seeing the terrain as it was 9000 years ago! Sadly, I take people into the woods to describe the changes in the land, and I get blank looks and ZERO situational imagination! Aiyiyi! I was gob-smacked to see your FB post come into my feed! WHAT?? and WOW!! Thank-you so much. I'll be following to be among like-wise, interested folks and learn what I can. Thanks again. You must be a madman to try and map the entire country! I feel your pain, LOL!!