Shell middens in New York City and Environs: Sites of wampum production?
Shell middens may contain evidence of sacred activities. Our local archaeology chapter hosted a talk on this intriguing subject.
by Carol S. Weed (M.A., RPA)
The New York State Archaeological Association, Louis A. Brennan/Lower Hudson Chapter had a well-attended meeting of its members on Sunday, November 3rd, at the Croton Point Park Nature Center. The members were thoroughly engaged by a program presented by Kristin Clyne-Lehmann (M.A., APD) who is currently affiliated with the Binghamton University’s Public Archaeology Facility. She is completing her dissertation work at the same facility.
Ms. Clyne-Lehmann’s presentation, however, was not focused on her dissertation. Rather, it concerned another project that began earlier in her career. While performing Cultural Resource Management (CRM) work in the Bronx she encountered an Indigenous shell midden which, in turn, led her to question the historical and current presence of these features in New York City.
Collaborative discussions with Dr. Joe Stahlman of the University at Buffalo greatly informed this research, through his astute point that wampum is sacred and middens may contain evidence of wampum production.
To gain insights into this, Clyne-Lehmann performed keyword text analysis on all 1,532 CRM reports on-file at the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. The data set contains reports concerning work conducted in the five NYC boroughs. She also researched historical excavation publications predating formal reporting and geo-referenced historical maps. From these qualitative sources, she located references to the locations of 65 Indigenous shell middens, with 18 potentially containing evidence of wampum production, within the City’s boundaries. Of these, apparently only one is still extant.
Clyne-Lehmann will return in the Spring to hold a class for the chapter members. During the class, the members will learn how to map the extant shell middens within the Park using LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) in newer iPhones/Androids and the free app Scaniverse. The goal is to make a 3D model of the eroding middens, with potential accuracy of +/- 1 centimeter. Further information on the date of her class will be provided early next year.
Carol Weed is a longtime leader of our local archaeology chapter, which is based at the Nature Center in Croton Point Park, and an expert in Native American ceramics and other artifacts.
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This is all very interesting. I love archaeology and Native American history. We are fortunate to live in a place rich with a long history and artifacts left behind like the shell middens.