Researchers collected ancient fish bone samples from middens at multiple archaeological sites in Penobscot Bay, Maine. Middens are ancient garbage heaps containing remains like mussel shells and fish bones representative of the local diet. Within middens, distinct layers or strata form over time, often representing cultural changes, and changes in diet can be tracked by analyzing differences between strata. Researchers searched specific layers for bones of nearshore fish like flounder and sculpin and offshore fish like cod. They also found ancient fish hooks confirming fish was a major part of the local diet. Researchers collect modern fish bones to compare isotopic signatures and track dietary changes over time.

1. FIELD METHODS:
COLLECTING ANCIENT AND MODERN FISH BONES

2. FIELD METHODS We collect our ancient fish
1. COLLECTING ANCIENT FISH BONES bone samples from middens
at multiple archaeological sites
in the Penobscot Bay.
Middens are ancient garbage
heaps where people have left
remains from domestic
activities, like cooking. Our
sample middens are full of
discarded mussel shells and
fish bones, representative of
the mainly marine diet of the
local native people.

3. FIELD METHODS
1. COLLECTING ANCIENT FISH BONES
Over time, the contents of
middens form distinct layers,
or strata, that often represent
distinct cultural changes. We
can track changes in the local
diet by tracking changes in the
contents of the stratum from
the deepest depth to the
surface soil. The lowermost
stratum reflects the oldest
deposit, the uppermost the
youngest.

4. FIELD METHODS
1. COLLECTING ANCIENT FISH BONES
Over time, the contents of
middens form distinct layers,
or strata, that often represent
distinct cultural changes. We
can track changes in the local
diet by tracking changes in the
contents of the stratum from
the deepest depth to the
surface soil. The lowermost Stratum 2
stratum reflects the oldest
Stratum 1
deposit, the uppermost the
youngest.

5. Flounder
FIELD METHODS
1. COLLECTING ANCIENT FISH BONES
In order to capture information
about both the nearshore and
offshore paleoenvironment of Cod
the Penobscot Bay regions, we
specifically searched for the
remains of two species of
nearshore fish (flounder and
sculpin) and one species of
offshore fish (cod). Sculpin

6. FIELD METHODS
1. COLLECTING ANCIENT FISH BONES
While searching for ancient fish
bones and other food remains
in the middens, we also found
these bone artifacts: hand-
carved fish hooks. They help
confirm that fish was a major
part of the local diet at the time
they were deposited. The large
hooks are well suited to catch
cod, while the smaller ones
would be useful for catching
flounder.

7. Flounder
FIELD METHODS
1. COLLECTING MODERN FISH BONES
Cod
Within the fish bones, we study
unique chemical (isotopic)
signatures that represent the fish’s
Sculpin
diet. We collect modern fish bones
and compare their isotopic
signatures to those preserved in our
ancient samples so that we can
track changes through time.

8. Flounder
FIELD METHODS
1. COLLECTING MODERN FISH BONES
Cod
To do this, we collect live samples
of nearshore species (sculpin and
flounder) and cod (offshore species) Sculpin
in close proximity to the Penobscot
Bay. We also buy samples of
offshore species from the Harbor
Fish Market in Portland.