Giant Native Americans, and the trails they may have walked in ancient times, will be just some of the topics discussed when local historian David Castano gives a presentation 10 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Wildlife Center classroom at Sinnemahoning State Park at 4843 Park Road in Austin.

Castano, of the Potter County Historical Society, will discuss the Native American presence in Potter County and the Sinnemahoning Valley. He will also display artifacts recovered in Potter County “that document the Native American culture and way of life before Europeans arrived in this area.”

In addition, Bill May of Sinnamahoning will play music on a Native American flute, said Kimberly Lott, environmental education specialist for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of State Parks at Sinnemahoning.

Lott said the program, which is new at the park, is free and open to the public.

Castano said he will talk specifically about the Indian trails that ran through Potter County, their significance and how they were used.

“Different trails had different uses,” Castano said. “For example, some were warriors paths, some were trade routes and some were hunting paths, as of course there were many of those in the county.

The historian said he will also speak about the Tioga path, which was the longest Iroquois path used specifically by Senecas in the region. He said the path passed through Coudersport near the upper Allegheny River and traveled all the way to Pittsburgh in the past.

“My talk is on the Indian trails, but it is also on what we know historically and prehistorically about the Native American presence in Potter County,” Castano continued. “We do have some artifacts that would go back to Paleo times which is about 6,000 B.C.”

Castano said he plans to bring a firestone, beveled adzes tools used for making canoes, a small mortar and pestle used for grinding pigment, fishnet sinkers, arrow points, a soapstone gorget worn around the neck as well as several hand-held chopping tools.

Castano will also discuss other Native American civilizations that had been in the area, including the predecessors of the Senecas and other Indian tribes, the Allegewi people.

“The Allegewis are probably the most ancient tribe that we know of,” he remarked. “They were the Indians in the area that we believe were the giants” standing over 7 feet in height.

“The Allegewis were also thought to be mound builders,” he added. “We actually have a mound that was excavated in the 1870s … he was very large, too, and was probably a chieftain.”

Lott said Castano’s information on the program can be obtained by contacting the park office at

647-8401.