Digging for Clams: Shell Midden Analysis in New England

Abstract

Analysis of shellfish and other faunal remains from coastal middens is a powerful tool for archaeologists studying a wide range of problems. Results of analysis of four prehistoric middens excavated on Potowomut Neck, Warwick, Rhode Island are discussed. The recovered data are used in comparing the properties and contents of each midden in order to identify distinct activities and interpret seasonality of settlement. It is demonstrated that these middens were largely specialized shellfish processing stations utilized on a seasonal basis, although other activities were also recognized. Examination of one midden suggests that the stratification of shellfish was related to the development of the nearby Potowomut River estuary. Results of shell midden analysis in general, however, provide only a partial picture of an entire subsistence-settlement system and therefore should be integrated with information from other site types both within and outside the coastal zone.