Old Colony Cove Site facts for kids

The Old Colony Cove Site is an interesting archaeological site located near Rose Haven in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. An archaeological site is a place where people in the past lived or left behind important clues about their lives. This particular site is special because it has a large shell midden.

A shell midden is like a giant pile of leftover shells from shellfish that ancient people ate. It's similar to a very old trash heap, but it tells us a lot about what people ate and how they lived long ago. The Old Colony Cove Site is quite large, about 2,000 feet (610 m) long and 300 feet (91 m) wide. It was recognized as an important historical place and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

What is a Shell Midden?

A shell midden is basically an ancient garbage dump made mostly of shells. These shells come from shellfish like oysters, clams, and mussels that people gathered and ate. Over many years, these shells piled up.

Besides shells, archaeologists often find other things in middens. These can include animal bones, broken pottery, and stone tools. These items give us clues about the daily lives of the people who lived there.

Middens are very important for archaeologists. They help scientists understand what ancient people ate. They also show how people used the natural resources around them.

How Do Archaeologists Study Middens?

When archaeologists study a shell midden, they dig carefully in layers. Each layer can represent a different time period. By studying these layers, they can see how people's lives changed over hundreds or even thousands of years.

They look for different types of shells to learn about the environment. For example, if they find many oyster shells, it means oysters were common nearby. They also look for tools used to open the shells or cook the food.

Who Lived at Old Colony Cove?

The Old Colony Cove Site was used by Native Americans long ago. This area of Maryland has a rich history of Indigenous peoples. They lived along the coasts and rivers, using the water for food and travel.

This site dates back to the Woodland period. The Woodland period in North America generally lasted from about 1000 BCE to 1000 CE. During this time, Native American groups often lived in settled villages. They also started to grow some of their own food, like corn and beans.

The people who lived here likely relied on the Chesapeake Bay for food. Shellfish would have been a very important part of their diet. They also hunted animals and gathered plants from the land.

Why is This Site Important?

The Old Colony Cove Site is important because it helps us learn about the past. It provides a window into the lives of Native Americans who lived in Maryland thousands of years ago. By studying sites like this, we can understand their culture, diet, and how they interacted with their environment.

Protecting archaeological sites is very important. Once a site is destroyed, the information it holds is lost forever. That is why the Old Colony Cove Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This listing helps to protect the site and its valuable history for future generations to study and appreciate.