(Quincy, MA) Moswetuset Hummock (Hummock)

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The Moswetuset Hummock as viewed from Quincy Shore Reservation (42.2807, -71.0177), Jul. 30, 2023, in Quincy, MA.  Credits: Geo Field Report

The Moswetuset Hummock marker (42.2895, -71.0224), Jul. 30, 2023, in Quincy, MA.  Credits: Geo Field Report


I am a huge fan of the food scene in Quincy, MA.  But only recently have I tried to look more into what Quincy offers in geography.  Quincy has a sandy coastline, but one nearby spot caught my eyes, the Moswetuset Hummock.

Today, a "hummock" means a small mound or knoll, and often the example pictures show these small mounds in the ground.  But the word had a nautical origin 500 years ago, it meant "a small hill that is conical- or dome- shaped that rises above the coastline".  Hey, that's a very good description of the Moswetuset Hummock!



The Moswetuset Hummock has a good bit of history, too.  It is believed to be the location where the Massachusetts tribe first met with the Plymouth colonists more than 400 years ago.  A tip for the visitors: bring bug spray.  When I visited, I think I walked away with half a dozen mosquito bites.  Or you can admire the hummock from Quincy's sandy shore.


Extended reading:

(Eastern Nazarene College) The Moswetuset Hummock 

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