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BOURNE — Scientists have found what they believe to be old Wampanoag burials throughout the area known as Burying Hill, after deploying ground-penetrating radar starting in mid-April.

The burials are relatively shallow so they are easy to confuse with tree roots, said John Steinberg, a research scientist with the Fiske Center for Archaeological Research at the University of Massachusetts Boston. “But we think we know where some of them are.”

The project confirms what tribe members have known for centuries through oral tradition — that Wampanoag ancestors were buried there, said Herring Pond tribal elder Hazel Currence.

“This brings a great awareness about our original communities to the greater population,” said Currence. “About who we were, who we are, and why we are trying to protect our homeland, our way of life, and our traditions and culture.”

On Saturday, May 3, Steinberg and his team, along with about 20 Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe members gathered at Burying Hill, to learn about the possible 50 burials that Steinberg located by sending radar waves through the soil.

Steinberg, who has been working on the site since April 15, guided tribal citizens through his research and showed them how to use radar receivers, and transmitters.

The project — a partnership between the university, the town of Bourne, and the tribe, is funded with Community Preservation Act money approved at the 2024 fall town meeting.

Burying Hill, on a rise above the Cape Cod Canal, was a traditional burying ground of the Wampanoag Nation and may have been used earlier than the 17th century, said Herring Pond Tribe member and attorney Jamie Hoctor. Burying Hill is also the likely site of the tribe's first meeting house, Hoctor said.

Homelands for the Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe range from Plymouth to nearby Cape towns of Bourne and Sandwich. The tribe, headquartered in Plymouth, was granted state recognition in November. There are about 200 active tribal citizens.

Where on Burying Hill are the remains?

The location of the burials will remain confidential, said Steinberg.

"We don’t want to reveal unmarked graves. It's illegal. And our client — the tribe ― is interested in protecting the burial grounds," he said.

Steinberg hypothesized that the tribe's ancestors were positioned on their sides at the time of their burial—their bodies wrapped in a shroud or some kind of blanket.

"This is not like a Christian burial ground. These guys are really hard to find. There's no coffins and in most cases there's no markers," said Steinberg.

Steinberg has detected similar burials before using ground penetrating radar at both the Old Indian Burial Grounds in Bourne, and within an ancient Viking burying ground in Iceland.

At Burying Hill, said Steinberg, the burials will remain undisturbed.

The team, he said, is also looking for evidence of the meetinghouse that once stood at the top of Burying Hill.

"So far we haven't found evidence of the meetinghouse but we will keep looking," he said.

What prompted the project?

Hoctor and Kerina Silva, also an attorney and Herring Pond Wampanoag tribal citizen, have been researching the town-owned Burying Hill since December 2023, after appealing an order of resource area delineation filed in November 2023 with the Bourne Conservation Commission by property owner Steven Kahian.

Kahian told the Times on Tuesday that he intends to donate 1.06 acres of his land to the tribe.

Before the land is officially transferred, Kahian said he needs to gain approval from other town boards and committees. But he said engineering plans and an agreement were put on record during the Thursday, May 1, Bourne Conservation Commission hearing.

“I could’ve been a real jerk and sat on it and did nothing with it," Kahian said of his land. "Instead, this is the best use of the land. It’s respect for the land.”

The engineering map shows a pathway that Kahian intends to build that will wrap around the property, the waterfront and the herring run, to allow tribal members access to Burying Hill, Silva said. She attended the May 1 meeting.

"The commission, and the tribal members who were present at that meeting were very impressed and happy with his plans," she said. "This is an example of the good that can happen when the town, private citizens, and the tribe work together and share our history."

How does the radar work?

The radar includes an antennae, receiver, and data collector and sends waves through the soil and then measures the amount of energy as it returns, and the amount of time it takes to receive it, said Steinberg.

Because radar waves travel at different speeds throughout different materials, scientists can use the measurements to identify whether an object below the ground is different from the soil around it, said Steinberg. A common difference is the amount of water in the soil, he said, and the radar waves travel fast through air and more slowly through wet ground.

"Lucky for us, the shafts (the excavated hole) and more often bones generally hold more water," said Steinberg.

A difference or contrast in what’s under the ground can cause a reflection (or distorted light) in the data, said Steinberg. The radar can't identify with 100% certainty what causes a reflection, he said. However there are certain characteristics of reflections that are consistent with burial shafts, according to Steinberg.

Herring Pond Wampanoag tribal citizen Jackie Saltalamacchia said she was able to conduct some of the ground penetrating radar. It's been exciting, she said, to be able to hypothesize about tribal ancestors.

"In some ways I have more questions than I have answers. But it feels good to sit out here and dream of what this research can show and what we can figure out about our people," she said.

What's next for Burying Hill?

Eventually, through additional research, said Steinberg, a map will be created to identify whether the remains were buried in clusters, or if they were evenly spaced. At this point in the project, he said, the raw data will continue to be collected and analyzed through May 15. The team will eventually use the data to create a 3D image of the subsurface.

For Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe Chairwoman Melissa Ferretti, the project isn't just about uncovering the past, it's about honoring the stories and lives of those that rest on Burying Hill.

"We are so grateful for the opportunity to stand together in remembrance and discovery," she said by phone on Monday."

Rachael Devaney writes about community and culture. Reach her at rdevaney@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter: @RachaelDevaney.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.

Bourne, MA (May 28, 2025) – A serious collision between a motorcycle and a pickup truck occurred in Bourne just before 4:00 p.m. on May 28. The crash happened on the Scenic Hwy (Route 6) near the intersection with Nightingale Pond Rd and resulted in injuries to the motorcyclist.

Emergency responders arrived promptly at the scene and provided medical care to the injured rider. The victim was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital trauma center in New Bedford for further treatment. No additional details on their condition or the extent of injuries have been disclosed at this time.

Authorities have confirmed that the cause of the crash remains under investigation. Local traffic was briefly affected as crews worked to manage the scene and ensure roadway safety.

Our thoughts are with the injured motorcyclist, and we hope for a full recovery.

Motorcycle Crash Risks and Rights in Massachusetts

Motorcycle accidents, like the one that occurred on the Scenic Hwy in Bourne, often result in significant injuries due to the exposed nature of motorcycles and the lack of protective barriers. Even at moderate speeds, a collision with a larger vehicle such as a pickup truck can have serious consequences for the rider.

In Massachusetts, injured riders have the right to pursue compensation if another party’s actions contributed to the crash. It’s essential to document the incident thoroughly, including medical reports, accident scene photos, and witness statements. These details can be instrumental in supporting a claim, especially in situations where liability may be disputed.

The emotional toll of a motorcycle crash is often underestimated. Riders may experience not only physical pain but also stress, anxiety, and fear of returning to the road. These factors are important considerations in any recovery plan.

Massachusetts’ comparative fault laws allow injured parties to seek damages even if they are partially at fault, as long as their share of the blame is not greater than 50%. Consulting with legal professionals familiar with motorcycle accident cases can help ensure that victims are fairly represented and compensated.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a crash, reach out to Local Accident Reports for assistance.

Law requires zoning districts for multi-family housing

Cape Cod Times

A commuter train from Boston does not run to Bourne year-round, or any other part of Cape Cod for that matter. But Bourne is near to complying with a state law that has commuting workers in mind.

Voters in Bourne may be asked in 2025 to approve changes that would bring the town into full compliance with the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) Communities Act, according to Bourne Town Planner Jennifer Copeland.

The MBTA provides subway, bus, commuter rail, ferry, and other transportation services to eastern Massachusetts and parts of Rhode Island, with Boston as a hub.

A total of 177 communities surrounding Boston from the North Shore to the Cape are subject to the requirements of Section 3A of the zoning act.

Bourne is the only town on the Cape, and it is identified as an "adjacent small town." The closest MBTA commuter rail stop is in Middleboro, about 20 miles north.

The town's action plan was approved in 2023, and the town has attained interim compliance under the law, Copeland said Jan. 30.

The last step for Bourne is creating a zoning district that is in compliance with the law, by Dec. 31, 2025, she said. The town is currently working on a new zoning plan for the downtown area in Buzzards Bay.

“We are hoping to bring changes to the downtown district to town meeting in May,” Copeland said.

What is the MBTA Communities Act?

Massachusetts is in a housing crisis with among the highest and fastest growing home prices and rents of any state in the nation, which has increased financial pressure on low-income families, according to the state.

One way the state is addressing the issue is with the MBTA Communities Act, which is intended to add multi-family housing in towns with commuter rail service, adjacent communities and adjacent small towns, according to the state.

The law requires that each MBTA community have at least one zoning district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted by right and is without age restrictions and suitable for families with children.

In January, the state Attorney General and the town of Milton emerged partially victorious in a ruling from the state's highest court. Towns and cities that were required to create zoning for multifamily housing near public transportation will still be subject to the law. But the state must redo the guidelines that make the law enforceable.

How would the new zoning work in Bourne?

Buzzards Bay currently has a downtown overlay zoning district, and within that, four subdistricts.

The main changes would involve amending the apartment requirements for three subdistricts — the Gateway, the Core and Waterfront — to allow for multi-family housing in accordance with Section 3A, Copeland said.

The Gateway subdistrict is around Belmont Rotary, the Core is south of Buzzards Bay Bypass and includes Main Street, and the Waterfront is west of downtown near Buzzards Bay Park, according to Copeland. The Neighborhood subdistrict would not be included in the plan.

“To comply with the Communities Act, Bourne will need 557 units,” Copeland said.

The downtown has the capacity for 2,000 units at 15 per acre, she said.

The amendments:

The first proposed amendment would allow workforce housing that currently requires a special permit to allow it by right, Copeland said. The second amendment would increase 12 units per acre by special permit to 15 units per acre by right. The third amendment would reduce the current parking space requirement from 1.5 per unit to one.

What are the next steps for Bourne?

The Planning Board has scheduled a hearing at 7 p.m. Feb. 13 and on Zoom on the proposed zoning changes, Copeland said. The plan is now available on the town website.

Copeland said the town Planning Department has been working with the state Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities and the Cape Cod Commission on the compliance modeling to ensure the downtown has the capacity for the new housing. The district meets the land unit requirements, she said. She will meet with the state agency again this week for a plan review.

Bourne’s long-term goal is to create a mass transit station, Copeland said. The town approved that goal in 2015 based on the MBTA expanding its commuter rail line.

Reporting by Hannah Morse with The Patriot Ledger was included in this story.

Susan Vaughn writes about transportation and other local community issues affecting Cape Cod residents and visitors. She can be reached at smharris@gannett.com.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.

At least two Cape Cod fire departments were called to Joint Base Cape Cod Thursday afternoon, May 1, sending brush trucks and tankers, according to the fire departments.

At the Joint Base Cape Cod Fire Department, an "active fire" was in progress, a person who answered the phone said at about 5:40 p.m. A fire official was not immediately available at the department.

At Bourne Fire Department, a brush truck, a tanker and a fire officer were sent after 1:30 p.m. for an incident, Bourne Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Haden said Thursday at around 5 p.m.

At Mashpee Fire Department, firefighters received a call for a brush fire at the base at 1:31 p.m. As of 5 p.m. the department had sent a breaker, a utility vehicle, a tanker and the fire chief, according to fire Captain Nicole Stanley.

The brush fire became a third-alarm fire, Stanley said.

The base is on the western side of Cape Cod and home to five military commands.

Prescribed burns on Joint Base Cape Cod

A prescribed burn was planned for April 30 and May 1 at Camp Edwards on Joint Base Cape Cod, if weather permitted, according to a press release. The burn is part of the Massachusetts National Guard's natural resources program, intended to reduce wildland hazard reduction, manage ecological pine barrens and train wildland firefighters.

The base's Environmental & Readiness Center contact Emily Kelly did not immediately return a call and email Thursday seeking comment.

Another prescribed burn was planned for Wednesday, 30 April, at Cape Cod Space Force Station, also at the base, if conditions permitted, according to a second press release. The burn was to be conducted by the U.S Air Force and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The burns are intended to reduce wildland fuel hazard and allow for pine barrens ecological management, according to Olivia Hooper, an environmental coordinator for the Space Force Station.

Hooper did not immediately return a call or email Thursday seeking comment.

(This story has been updated to add a new photo.)

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.