The Maine Archaeology Cultural and Heritage Guide.

For the last 22 years, students have been studying archaeology under the guidance of Dr. Nathan Hamilton. Since 2004, students have been learning about public archaeology and compiling information about archaeological sites in Maine. This story map highlights student course work, undergraduate research, and archaeological sites in Maine.

Public archaeology focuses on how to share archaeological information and engage with the public. Modern archaeology has become more than artifacts and catalogues. Today’s students don’t just learn about techniques, they also learn about cultural heritage and public engagement.

Public Archaeology has been offered at the University of Southern Maine by the Muskie Public School of service for 22 years and was among the first of its kind to be taught in the United States. Through course work, students have compiled information about pre-contact and historic archaeological sites and institutions in Maine. Over the years, students have learned about 18 professional institutions and 150 sites.

Three undergraduate research projects were conducted by students in the Muskie School of public Service at the University of Southern Maine. These projects were funded by the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, and they focused public outreach.  

Anthony Viola began the project by focusing on sites along the Presumpscot river between Sebago Lake and Casco Bay.

Julia Gustafson added to the database by further expanding the sites along coasts, rivers, and lakes and produced a story map featuring 25 sites.  View Julia's story map 

Colleen Metcalf and Nate Hamilton expanded the database to include 100 sites. She mapped the distribution and various attributes of the sites and is the author of this story map.

Archaeological sites in Maine go back as far as 11,000 years ago. The pre-contact and early historic periods are often dated by radiocarbon tests performed at various laboratories. The sites in the Cultural Archaeology and Heritage Guide range from the pre-contact Paleoindian period to the 19th century.

Next, we will take a closer look at where the Maine Cultural Archaeology and culture Guide sites fit on the timeline.

The sites in the Maine Cultural Heritage Guide were excavated by archaeologists that work for or have connections to institutions. Below are some of the institutions that have supported Maine archaeology.

Founded in 1926 and first opened to the public in 1928. The present building was built in 2001 and curates significant Maine collections. The museum’s collections represent 12,000 years of Native American Culture and history in Maine. The Museum currently holds the largest collection of Maine Indian basketry.  Several significant excavations focused on the coast near Bar Harbor, most notably Tranquility Farm and Taffs Point. The Abbe Museum has a strong partnership with Maine’s Native Americans.

Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology at Harvard

The Harvard Museum if Archaeology & Ethnology was founded in 1866.” Today, the museum serves as a public space for people to celebrate diversity and learn about the many ways people live and exist.” The excavated and curated remains from the Damariscotta shell midden are some of the earliest coastal excavations in Maine and are curated at the Peabody Museum. Charles Willoughby from Maine conducted work on lithic quarries, shell middens and “red paint” burial sites.

Established in 1971, the goal of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission (MHPC) is to “preserve the architectural, historic and environmental heritage of the people of the State, and to develop and promote the cultural, educational and economic benefits of these resources." The Maine Historic Preservation Commission is an independent agency within the Executive branch of State government that functions as the State Historic Preservation office. The commission reviews and nominates structures, landscapes, and archaeological sites to the National Register of Historic Places. MHPC conducts the majority of research and excavation in the state of Maine.

One of the nation’s oldest state-funded museums. “The Maine State Museum seeks to share what is meaningful about Maine and its place in the world, in order to inspire people to discover Maine’s past, understand its present, and imagine its future.” The Maine State Museum has permanent exhibit of archaeological investigations conducted in Maine, one of the sites focused on is the Turner Farm Site, excavated by Bruce Bourque.

“Robert S. Peabody, Class of 1857, founded our institution in 1901 with three goals in mind: to introduce the students of Phillips Academy to the world of archaeology, to promote archaeological research, and to provide a place for students to gather.” The museum’s collections contain more than 600,00 artifacts, photographs, and documents that can be accessed by appointment. . Two significant phases of research in Maine are represented in the collections. First, the work of Warren K. Moorehead focused on “red paint cemeteries” and coastal shell heaps. Second, the work of Douglas Byers and Fred Johnson focused on downeast coastal sites and rivers.

The Hudson Museum curates about 9,000 objects. The museum has two main areas of focus: ethnographic and archaeological objects of pre-Columbian ceramics, lithics and gold work and A North American Collection that includes various items from Native American, Native Alaskan & Hawaiian peoples “The Hudson Museum’s mission is to celebrate cultural diversity and inclusion through our exhibitions, events and programs.”

Use the map and the buttons below to see what sites have been excavated and curated by archaeological institutions.

Our story would not be complete without looking at some of sites in more detail. We have chosen a small selection that showcase Maine’s unique archaeological and cultural heritage. Our journey begins in an ancient quarry in northern Maine.

The history of peoples in Maine begins with the Native Americans, after the Glacial ice recedes approximately 11,000 years ago. Cultural remains from Native American sites suggest three distinct periods of human development in Maine, the Paleoindian, Archaic, and Ceramic periods. After the arrival of Europeans, the life of Native Mainers was altered significantly, and the contact period began.

Archaeologists have been studying the unique History of Maine for 170 years. Many different institutions have helped to fund and organize the work. These institutions are responsible for curation and displays of artifacts today. The relationship between Native Americans and Museums has become collaborative, giving modern descendants a roll in the interpretations of the past.

This project was made possible by the Undergraduate Research Opportunities program at the University of Southern Maine.