Spiller Farm Paleoindian Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Spiller Farm Paleoindian Site
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View of the Spiller Farm property
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Wells, Maine |
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| Area | 60 acres (24 ha) |
| MPS | Maine Fluted Point Paleoindian Sites MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 03000922 |
| Added to NRHP | September 12, 2003 |
The Spiller Farm Paleoindian Site is a very old place in Wells, Maine. It's where archaeologists found amazing tools and signs of people who lived there about 10,000 years ago! This special spot is also known as Site 4.13. It sits on a farm, looking over a stream. Because of its importance, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.
Exploring the Spiller Farm Site
The Spiller Farm Site is part of a 60-acre property in northern Wells, Maine. It is located near a small river called a tributary of the Merriland River. In 1995, this important site was found in a field that had been plowed. After it was discovered, archaeologists spent several seasons digging and studying the area.
What Did Ancient People Leave Behind?
The most exciting things found at the Spiller Farm Site are almost 300 stone tools. These tools give us clues about how people lived long ago. Most of these tools were made from a type of rock called chert. This chert came from a place called the Willard Brook Quarry in central Maine.
Archaeologists also found some tools made from rhyolite. This type of rock came from the Mount Jasper Lithic Source in Berlin, New Hampshire. They even found one tool made from chalcedony, which probably came from Atlantic Canada.
How Is This Site Special?
The Spiller Farm Site is different from another nearby ancient site called the Hedden Site. At the Hedden Site, the stone tools came from many more places. This tells us that the people at Spiller Farm might have traveled less or traded differently for their stone materials.
Besides the tools, archaeologists also found proof of at least two hearth sites. A hearth site is a place where people made fires. These fires were used for cooking, warmth, and making tools. Finding hearths helps us understand where people gathered and lived within the site.
