Middens (archaelogical site)
Middens are significant archaeological sites characterized primarily by the accumulation of marine shells, often resulting from human consumption and other activities. The term "midden" reflects the cultural practices surrounding the disposal of shells after the meat has been eaten, but these sites can also serve multiple purposes, such as industrial waste disposal and construction of architectural features. Evidence suggests that humans began accumulating marine shells as early as 9,600 years ago in locations like Diablo Canyon, California, while the oldest known Atlantic Coast shell middens are approximately 7,000 years old.
Middens may also serve as burial sites and contain valuable artifacts, reflecting various aspects of human life, trade, and beliefs across different periods. In North America, most shell-bearing sites formed within the last 5,000 years, coinciding with the establishment of modern shorelines. The calcium-rich shells contribute to alkaline soils, which enhance the preservation of organic materials, including bones and plants. This preservation makes middens vital for understanding past human activities and adaptations, offering insights into diverse cultural practices and environmental interactions over millennia.
Middens (archaelogical site)
Date: Since 9600 b.p.
Tribes affected: Tribes living near coasts and rivers
Significance: The accumulation of middens in prehistoric and later native cultures provides an excellent source of information about early North American human activities
A midden is a type of archaeological site in which shell is the most prominent component of the matrix visually. The term “midden” signifies that the shell was discarded after the meat was consumed for food, but the ethnographic record provides many reasons for intentionally accumulating shells in one place. These reasons include industrial waste disposal (for example, from shell button, cameo, porcelain, and lime manufactures) and the building of architectural features (such as bleachers, mounds, and retaining walls).
Humans accumulated notable quantities of marine shells as early as 9,600 years ago in Diablo Canyon, California. The oldest Atlantic Coast shell middens are 7,000 years old. Along some rivers in the eastern United States mounds of shells dating from 8,000 to 2,000 years ago were the loci of burials for hundreds of humans, dogs, and trade goods. The majority of shell-bearing sites in North America, however, appeared in the last 5,000 years, when modern shorelines were established. The earliest pottery in North American has been found in shell rings on the South Carolina and Georgia coasts and along the Savannah River.
Sites on interior rivers and the Pacific Coast are composed of dozens of species of shellfish, while those on the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico are usually composed of few species. The calcium in the shell creates an alkaline soil which significantly improves the preservation of bones, plants, and shells, making these sites excellent sources of information about human activities and adaptation.