Shell Midden Diversity: A Case Example from Coastal New York

Abstract

This article is an examination of the diverse roles shell middens played in the prehistoric settlement systems of coastal New York. Test expectations are generated for three kinds of shell middens established by hunter-gatherer groups employing different subsistence/settlement strategies to exploit the coastal environment. The identification of the different shell middens is based on information commonly collected or reported from excavated coastal sites, including shellfish frequencies, artifact assemblages and architectural features. An analysis of eight shell middens excavated along the north shore of Long Island and the New York City vicinity suggests that the functions and occupation durations of these coastal sites varied significantly, findings that indicate a complex mix of coastal settlement strategies were practiced by prehistoric groups.