Flye Point 2 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Flye Point 2
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| Nearest city | Brooklin, Maine |
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| Area | 0.8 acres (0.32 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 85000842 |
| Added to NRHP | April 15, 1985 |
Flye Point 2 is a really old place in Brooklin, Maine. It's also called Site 42.43 by archaeologists. This special spot has a huge pile of old shells, called a shell midden. Archaeologists found clues here that show people lived there around 1000 CE. That's about 1,000 years ago! This shell midden is one of the biggest along the coast of eastern Maine. Because it's so important, Flye Point 2 was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
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Discovering Flye Point 2
Flye Point is a piece of land that sticks out into Blue Hill Bay. It's located in Brooklin, Maine. This area is near another famous old site called the Goddard Site.
What is a Shell Midden?
The most important part of Flye Point 2 is its large shell midden. A shell midden is like an ancient trash pile. It's made mostly of shells from seafood that people ate long ago. When it was first listed, this midden was about 170 meters (558 feet) long.
Over time, the ocean's tides have worn away parts of the site. Experts believe about half of the original shell midden has already been lost. The shells in the midden are about 40 centimeters (16 inches) thick. Near the top, the shells are crushed. Deeper down, the shells are often whole.
Digging Up the Past
In 1983, a scientist named Dr. Steven Cox led an excavation at Flye Point 2. An excavation is when archaeologists carefully dig up a site to find artifacts. They dug up 29 squares, each one meter by one meter.
During their digging, they found a layer where people used to live. This layer dates back to a time called the Late Ceramic period. This period is when people started making and using pottery.
Clues from Animal Bones
The archaeologists also found many animal remains at the site. These are called "faunal remains." These clues suggest that people might have lived at Flye Point 2 all year round.
Why Flye Point 2 is Important
Flye Point 2, along with the Goddard Site, helps us understand how people lived. It gives us important information about daily life during the Late Ceramic period. It's even possible that older artifacts could still be found deeper in the ground.
