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Massachusetts Historical Commission

Massachusetts Bay Sites Artifacts

  • Pestle (grinder or pounder). Stone, Ground. Spectacle Island, MA.

    Pestle (grinder or pounder). Stone, Ground. Spectacle Island, MA.

  • Grinding stone. Ground. Spectacle Island, MA.

    Grinding stone. Ground. Spectacle Island, MA.

  • Pottery body fragment. Shell-tempered earthenware. Spectacle Island, MA.

    Pottery body fragment. Shell-tempered earthenware. Spectacle Island, MA.

  • Pottery rim fragment. Shell-tempered earthenware. Spectacle Island, MA.

    Pottery rim fragment. Shell-tempered earthenware. Spectacle Island, MA.

  • Black duck bone. Ulna (wing) fragment. Spectacle Island, MA.

    Black duck bone. Ulna (wing) fragment. Spectacle Island, MA.

  • Brant (small goose) bone. Humerus (wing) fragment. Spectacle Island, MA.

    Brant (small goose) bone. Humerus (wing) fragment. Spectacle Island, MA.

  • Scoter (sea duck) bone. Tibiotarsus (foot) fragment. Spectacle Island, MA.

    Scoter (sea duck) bone. Tibiotarsus (foot) fragment. Spectacle Island, MA.

  • Bay duck bone. Femur (leg) fragment. Spectacle Island, MA.

    Bay duck bone. Femur (leg) fragment. Spectacle Island, MA.

  • Hickory nut shell fragments. Carbonized from burning. Spectacle Island, MA. These are the only remains of edible plants found in the midden and were preserved because they were thrown into a fire. They were gathered in the fall, possibly from trees on the island, but more likely were brought over from the mainland.

    Hickory nut shell fragments. Carbonized from burning. Spectacle Island, MA. These are the only remains of edible plants found in the midden and were preserved because they were thrown into a fire. They were gathered in the fall, possibly from trees on the island, but more likely were brought over from the mainland.

  • Projectile point or awl tips. Bone, Ground and polished. Spectacle Island, MA.

    Projectile point or awl tips. Bone, Ground and polished. Spectacle Island, MA."

  • Chipped stone tool. Small stemmed point, purple felsite. Spectacle Island, MA.

    Chipped stone tool. Small stemmed point, purple felsite. Spectacle Island, MA.

  • Chipped stone tool. Notched, eared point. Spectacle Island, MA.

    Chipped stone tool. Notched, eared point. Spectacle Island, MA.

  • Chipped stone tool. Lanceolate biface or blade. Spectacle Island, MA.

    Chipped stone tool. Lanceolate biface or blade. Spectacle Island, MA.

  • Pendant. Stone, Ground and perforated. Spectacle Island, MA.

    Pendant. Stone, Ground and perforated. Spectacle Island, MA.

  • Meadowwood projectile point. Stone, Chipped. Spectacle Island, MA.

    Meadowwood projectile point. Stone, Chipped. Spectacle Island, MA.

  • Barbed harpoon or projectile points. Bone (deer), Ground and polished. Spectacle Island, MA.

    Barbed harpoon or projectile points. Bone (deer), Ground and polished. Spectacle Island, MA.

  • Clam shells. Spectacle Island, MA. Soft-shell clam fragments made up the bulk of the Spectacle Island shell midden. Counting samples of hinge fragments and measuring shell size allowed archaeologists to suggest how much shellfish meat was consumed or processed on the island over a period of approximately 600 years.

    Clam shells. Spectacle Island, MA. Soft-shell clam fragments made up the bulk of the Spectacle Island shell midden. Counting samples of hinge fragments and measuring shell size allowed archaeologists to suggest how much shellfish meat was consumed or processed on the island over a period of approximately 600 years.

  • Projectile points. Bone, Ground and polished. Spectacle Island, MA.

    Projectile points. Bone, Ground and polished. Spectacle Island, MA.

  • Cod fish bones. Otoliths (Ear bones). Spectacle Island, MA. Cod were the most abundant fish bones found in the midden. Cod move from the ocean to inshore waters to spawn every fall, suggesting that Spectacle Island was visited during the fall season. The size of the otoliths reveals the age of the fish when they were caught.

    Cod fish bones. Otoliths (Ear bones). Spectacle Island, MA. Cod were the most abundant fish bones found in the midden. Cod move from the ocean to inshore waters to spawn every fall, suggesting that Spectacle Island was visited during the fall season. The size of the otoliths reveals the age of the fish when they were caught.

  • Neville-style spear point. Stone, Chipped. Spectacle Island, MA. The earliest evidence of human occupation of Spectacle Island is this Neville-style spear point dating from approximately 8,000 to 6,500 years ago.

    Neville-style spear point. Stone, Chipped. Spectacle Island, MA. The earliest evidence of human occupation of Spectacle Island is this Neville-style spear point dating from approximately 8,000 to 6,500 years ago.

  • Levanna point. Stone, Chipped. Calf Island.

    Levanna point. Stone, Chipped. Calf Island.

  • Levanna points. Stone, Chipped. Grape Island.

    Levanna points. Stone, Chipped. Grape Island.

  • Awl or point tip. Bone, Ground and polished. Calf Island.

    Awl or point tip. Bone, Ground and polished. Calf Island.

  • Drill bit. Stone, Chipped. Calf Island.

    Drill bit. Stone, Chipped. Calf Island.

  • Biface fragments Stone, Chipped. Charlestown, MA.

    Biface fragments Stone, Chipped. Charlestown, MA.