Shell Midden Archaeology: Current Trends and Future Directions

Abstract

Since the 19th century, the study of shell middens has played an important role in archaeological research. Shell midden and broader coastal archaeology have transformed our understanding of human relationships with aquatic habitats, demonstrating the importance of marine environments to human evolution and ecology, the colonization of islands and establishment of maritime trade networks, changing social and political dynamics, and a variety of other issues. During the past two decades, shell midden research has greatly increased, marking an exciting time for new discoveries and heightened collaboration with Indigenous communities. Several key research trends in shell midden archaeology during the past 10–15 years include research on site distribution and temporality, underwater archaeology, historical ecology, terraforming, landscape legacies, and community collaboration. These research trends demonstrate the ways in which shell midden archaeologists are shaping our understanding of the human past and environmental change around the world.

New Approaches to Using Old Artifacts: Advances in Oceanography‐Archeology Research

“…Freshwater midden locations not shown. Locations adapted from Rick (2023) and Robson et al (2022), and references therein.…”

The dynamics of fishing villages along the South Atlantic Coast of North America (ca. 5000–3000 years BP)

“…This work looks at village dynamics once villages become an established pattern on the landscape. Although there is often overlap in individual studies, this separation tends to also sort out by the economic resources that these villages pursue, with nondomesticated resources (or the transition to crop agriculture) being associated with the former and crop reliant villages with the latter 11 . Few studies examine the nature of early village societies where nondomesticated resources provide the economic base beyond looking at evidence for sedentism at the site level.…”