Shell-ring archaeological sites, “one of the most visible site types along the lower South Atlantic Coast of the United States”, are the subject of an interesting new study. The study reveals that these settlements represent the earliest known year-round Native American communities in the Eastern Woodlands, thriving in dynamic and shifting coastal environments.
Arc-Shaped Patterns: A Fluctuating Coastal Environment
These formations which take on circular or arc-shaped patterns, are composed mainly of mollusk shells, particularly from Crassostrea virginica (Eastern oyster), also including early pottery, animal remains, and other artifacts, reveals the study published in the newest edition of Scientific Reports.
It is believed that these shell deposits accumulated around and beside homes, gradually forming ring-shaped middens as a result of both daily domestic activities and ceremonial feasting practices over time.
Through the use of sea-level modeling and isotope geochemistry analysis of mollusk remains, archaeologists have determined that these communities date back to around 5000–3800 years ago.
“They lived within a fluctuating coastal environment, harvested certain resources year-round, and targeted diverse habitats across the estuaries. Both the growth and decline of these earliest villages are associated with a concomitant rise and lowering of sea level that impacted the productivity of the oyster reef fishery along the South…
