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The Nevin Shell heap is located just south of Blue Hill Bay on the coast of Maine. Nevin was once much larger, however over time the waves have carried away and covered the site. Plummets, hammer stones, as well as other artifacts have been found at the site under gravel, sand and shell. Radiocarbon dating has produced a range of dates of the artifacts that suggest that the Nevin site is at least 3,000 years old. In 1936 a group of six began excavating the Nevin site. Their work proved difficult, as the shell heap seemed to have been disturbed by plowing caused by settlers as well as from Native Americans. They found beds of white ash containing burned shells and animal bones, areas of pebbles, and twelve burials some with burial gifts. From one burial two lances made of bone or pike heads were recovered, as well as the ulna of a large bird, a stone that matched another found at Nevin, a bone awl, and the end of a bone lance. Other burial gifts found at the site included perforated canine teeth, bone daggers, slate spears, stone plummets, and a flute made from the wing bone of a bird. Occupation at Nevin and the cultural connection of the earliest in habitants at Nevin reflect a culture that lived northeastward and westward from Maine and New Brunswick into the Great Lakes region. Later occupations reflect a culture that inhabited the northern hardwood from the Great Lakes basin to Newfoundland, and that they were not related to the archaic people of the New York and Ohio region. Below are thumbnail images of Nevin, each with a description.
Nevin bedrock exposed at low tide.©
Arrowheads and tool implements from Nevin.©
Plummets from Nevin.©
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