Radiocarbon age of the damariscotta shell heaps

W.H. Bradley

doi:10.2307/276571

Home/Archive/USGS

USGS · 70219988

Radiocarbon age of the damariscotta shell heaps

W.H. Bradley

View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

The large oyster shell heaps on both sides of the Damariscotta River, just north of the towns of Damariscotta and Newcastle, Maine, have been known for many years and both geologists and archaeologists have speculated about their age. During the summer of 1955 I made 2 collections of Mya shells from the largest shell heap on the west side of the river (Glidden estate) for radiocarbon age determinations.

Explore related subjects

American Antiquity Article

Source-reported bounding extent: 43.96119063892024° to 44.10139306449849° latitude; -69.66430664062499° to -69.42535400390625° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeX RIS

W.H. Bradley. 2017-01-20. Radiocarbon age of the damariscotta shell heaps. https://doi.org/10.2307/276571

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related USGS reports

USGS2025

Luminescence dating of stone structures in northeastern United States

There is no consensus on who built the numerous stone structures that dot the archaeological landscape in the northeastern United States. Professional archaeologists traditionally have attributed them to colonial farmers, but increasing numbers of archaeologists have joined many nonprofessional groups and Native Americans in arguing for Indigenous origins. Better understanding of these structures can be obtained by determining how old they are. This article reviews nearly 60 luminescence ages, on both sediments and rocks, that have been obtained in recent years. Many of the derived ages fall in the sixteenth century, between initial European contact and substantial colonial settlement. A few ages are significantly older, suggesting that this technology has a deeper origin. The results warrant more research into these structures and rethinking their significance.

American Antiquity↗

USGS2017

The Finley Site: Antiquity of the Finley Site

This report is based on two months reconnaissance in the summer of 1941 in the Eden Valley, Wyoming. The work is as yet far from complete and the conclusions presented here must be regarded as tentative. It is hoped that in the future more extensive geological work may be undertaken. The Finley site provides a promising opportunity for a determination of the age of the Yuma culture. The points and bones described by Dr. Howard occur in a culture layer which has been found in a large dune area, here called the Killpecker dunes. The deposition of the culture layer is one of a series of events in the dune area which can be correlated with the cutting and filling of gravel terraces in the Eden Valley to the west, and these in turn may be related to the glacial chronology in the Wind River Mountains which lie to the north.

Wyoming↗

USGS2017

Notes on the Archaeology of the Utukok River, Northwestern Alaska

Early in May 1947, a United States Geological Survey field party of five was flown by ski plane to the headwaters of the Utukok River in northwestern Alaska, about 200 miles southwest of Barrow. Three 18–foot canvas boats of a special folding design were taken in along with enough equipment for four months. Food caches had been flown in to six localities on the 200–mile–long river a short time before the group landed. When the “break–up” came late in May the party started down the river working out the geology of the area from a series of 18 camps which were established before reaching the Arctic Ocean in August. During the season 17 archaeological sites were discovered. It is believed that most of these sites are of Eskimo origin and are probably fairly recent. However, an important exception is a well–made Folsom point, announcement of which has been made.

Alaska↗