Geoarchaeology at Gilman Falls

An Archaic quarry and manufacturing site in central Maine, U.S.A

Bibliographic Data

ID12132899
AuthorsDavid Sanger (University of Maine, corresponding author), Alice R Kelley (0000-0002-8977-1033, University of Maine), Henry N Berry (Maine State Museum)
Year2001
Volume16
Issue6
Pages633-665
Publication date2001-07-03
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueGeoarchaeology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0883-6353 • E-ISSN: 1520-6548
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/gea.1014
OpenAlexW2129993536
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited15

Interdisciplinary investigations at the Milford Reservoir, central Maine, resulted in excavation and analysis of a Middle Archaic quarry and manufacturing site at Gilman Falls, dated to between 7300 and 6300 yr B.P. Lithological analysis indicates that the majority of the artifacts came from very local outcrops, providing low‐grade metamorphic rocks. Native Americans used a specialized technique to reduce the granofels and other rocks to long rods, artifacts commonly placed in local cemeteries. The Gilman Falls site was largely abandoned once these artifacts were no longer in vogue. Therefore, access to particular bedrock outcrops seems to have played an important role in site selection. Gilman Falls and other early to middle Holocene sites are preserved where bedrock sill dams ponded water that deposited fine sand. Early site sedimentation history is paralleled by a drainage change in the headwaters of the Penobscot River. Evidence for lower mid‐Holocene lake levels and a period of higher temperatures and lower precipitation may correlate with the sedimentation history. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc

Archaeology · Bedrock · Cave · Cobble · Debitage · Excavation · Geoarchaeology · Geochemistry · Geography · Geomorphology · Habitat · Holocene · Outcrop · Period (music · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Geological formations and processes · Geology and Paleoclimatology Research · Geology · Paleontology

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