Damariscotta (Whaleback) Shell Midden Historic District
Shell midden, Newcastle, ca. 1935. Photo: Collections of Boston Public Library.
Imagine enjoying seafood with your family in the same spot every winter for nearly 1,000 years. It's this tradition that led to the creation of one of North America's largest shell middens-the Whaleback Shell Midden on the Damariscotta River.
A shell midden is an ancient refuse heap where leftovers, broken pottery, stone tools, and shells were discarded long before modern waste disposal existed. Though they may seem unremarkable, these middens serve as time capsules that help archaeologists understand Indigenous lifestyles.
The Whaleback Midden was formed by generations of Maine's Penobscot Nation, who returned to this region of Maine to harvest oysters every winter and early spring. Over generations, the shell mound grew more than 30 feet high and was named for its whale-like shape.
The oyster shells helped preserve history, containing calcium that protects remains from decay. Archaeologists have discovered pottery, stone tools, fish bones, and the remains of animals such as deer and seals, demonstrating the Penobscot's ancestors' diverse diets. They likely spent only part of the year at the midden, moving to follow seasonal resources.
Much of the Whaleback Midden has been lost since a mining operation began in 1886 to grind shells into chicken feed and fertilizer. However, archaeologist Abram T. Gamage documented many of the artifacts before the digging started, preserving valuable information.
Today, a small section of the original midden is protected as the Whaleback Shell Midden State Historic Site, where visitors can explore and learn about the area's rich history. This site reminds us that historical stories can often be found in the remnants of everyday life, deepening our understanding of Maine's first peoples.