Necostin Indian Site

The original residents of the Lake Barcroft neighborhood were the Doe and Necostin Indians of the Algonquin tribes. (Anacostia derives its name from the Necostins.) Artifacts of these early natives are still occasionally found. Howard Uphoff has uncovered arrowheads on his land here at 6308 Lakeview Drive.


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The Necostin Indians, also known as the Anacostans or Nacotchtanks, were an Algonquian-speaking Native American tribe who inhabited the area surrounding the Anacostia River and the Eastern Branch of the Potomac River. They were the earliest known inhabitants of Capitol Hill and are believed to have lived in villages along the southeast side of the Anacostia River.

Name:
The tribe was known as Nacotchtank or Anacostan, with "Nacotchtank" being the original Algonquian name and "Anacostan" being an anglicized version. The name "Necostin" was an even further anglicized variation used by colonists.

Location:
They lived in the area around the Anacostia River, between Bolling Air Force Base and Anacostia Park, and also in a village on the west bank of the Potomac River, opposite what is now Theodore Roosevelt Island.

Culture and Life:
The Nacotchtank were known to trade with other tribes, including the Piscataway and Doeg. They also utilized the Eastern Branch of the Potomac River for food, transportation, and communication.

Contact with Europeans:
Captain John Smith documented visiting a Nacotchtank village in 1608. As European colonists arrived, the Nacotchtank relocated and are believed to have merged with the Piscataway.

Theodore Roosevelt Island:
The island was initially called Analostan, an anglicized version of Nacotchtank, and was a place where the Nacotchtank sought refuge as Europeans began to encroach on their villages.

Historical Significance:
The Nacotchtank's presence in the area is a reminder of the rich and complex history of the region before European colonization.