Session One: What do we know about shell middens and what do they tell us about our past?

Shell middens are accumulations of shells, bones, and artifacts situated along Maine's mainland and island coasts. They were left behind by Native peoples who harvested shellfish and other marine animals along the Maine coast or islands. Many shell middens have been discovered on Chebeague Island and the Cumberland mainland.

Thomas Bennett offers an examination of shell middens, what they tell us about the Native lifestyle, and how private citizens can become involved in protecting this important cultural resource.

Thomas Bennett first excavated a shell midden on Mosher Island in Freeport in 1986. He has worked on archaeological digs in Arizona, Maine, and Massachusetts, where he was field supervisor on the Boston Harbor/Spectacle Island shell midden dig, a component of the Big Dig.

This program is a two-part virtual presentation offered in collaboration with Prince Memorial Library. Register for one or both.