Cape Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cape Site
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| Nearest city | West Leeds, Maine |
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| MPS | Androscoggin River Drainage Prehistoric Sites MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 92001511 |
| Added to NRHP | November 14, 1992 |
The Cape Site is a very old archaeological site in West Leeds, Maine. It is also known as Site 36.27 by the Maine Archaeological Survey. This special place is on a waterfront and holds many secrets from the past.
Archaeologists have found pieces of pottery, stone tools, and signs of people living there. Some of these discoveries date back as far as 6000 BCE. BCE stands for "Before Common Era," which is another way to say "Before Christ." So, 6000 BCE means about 8,000 years ago! The Cape Site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992 because it is so important.
What Makes the Cape Site Special?
The Cape Site is located right by the water. Scientists first started digging there in 1987 to learn more about it. The ground at the site is mostly sandy and covered with trees.
Layers of History
During the digs, archaeologists found fifteen different layers of soil. These layers went down about 140 centimeters (or 4.6 feet) deep. The top six layers seem to be from after European settlers arrived and started farming.
The oldest things found were deep down, about 110 centimeters (or 3.6 feet) below the surface. Here, they found tiny pieces of bone, burned seeds, and charcoal. Scientists used a method called "radiocarbon dating" to find out how old these items were. This method showed they were from around 6000 BCE. It was hard to tell exactly what animals the bones came from because of the wet ground.
Tools and Pottery
Higher up in the soil, archaeologists discovered pieces of pottery. Even though these pieces couldn't be dated directly, they looked like pottery found at other sites from the Early and Middle Woodland Period. This time was roughly between 600 BCE and 100 BCE.
They also found a stone tool called a "biface." A biface is a stone tool that has been shaped on both sides. This particular tool was made from a type of rock called rhyolite.
The Cape Site is very important because its layers are so clear. Each layer tells a different story about when people lived there. This helps scientists understand how people lived at different times in history. However, the site is at risk because the water levels in the area keep changing.
