Conrad,
By your own definition, you appear to be separating middens and dumps
... A shell midden is far more than just a dump site ... it is a
working area resulting from the processing of molluscs.
I agree with Andy ... middens are accretionary deposits associated
with distinct activity areas, and dumps are remote refuse disposal
sites. We have had the same discussion here in Illinois relative to
nineteenth century farmsteads.
Mark
At 2:16 PM -0400 5/11/10, Conrad Bladey wrote:
>I have seen middens described as containing many different types of
>deposit- even burials.
>
>I believe that it is the same as a dump. Refuse
>
>Most likely it is a British Term or archaic American term for a dump.
>
>Middens are often qualified by type as in Shell, bone but so are dumps.
>
>Shell middens were often some ways from settlements at the sites of
>gathering of shellfish for example lightening the load
>
>Conrad Bladey
>Peasant
>
>Andy Sewell wrote:
>
>>I also tend to think of a midden as something that gradually
>>accumulates as a result of disposal activities over time, while a
>>dump may represent a discrete occurrence of disposal, often of just
>>a few classes of artifacts (bottles, broken dishes). A dump may
>>also be located at some distance from the place of residence, or
>>deposited in a specific landform, such as a ravine, whereas I tend
>>to think of a midden as something that would likely be found around
>>a domestic structure, such as a kitchen. I also think that using a
>>term that a historical occupant or producer of such a deposit would
>>use might be a good approach to consider.
>>
>>
>>Andrew R. Sewell, MS, RPA
>>Principal Investigator
>>Hardlines Design Company
>>? Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail
>>
>>Andy
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
>>Jeanette Mckenna
>>Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2010 1:57 PM
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: Re: terminology
>>
>>I tend to think of "midden" and household or more organic waste, while
>>trash dump or refuse may include many other items - like industrial waste,
>>metals, etc.
>>
>>Jeanette McKenna
>>California
>>
>>
>>
>>>[Original Message]
>>>From: Chuck Carrig <[log in to unmask]>
>>>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>>Date: 5/11/2010 10:53:55 AM
>>>Subject: terminology
>>>
>>>Is there a consensus on the proper terminology for the discussion of
>>>historic refuse concentrations?
>>>
>>>I've always used the terminology historic midden as opposed to historic
>>>trash dump.
>>>
>>>Chuck Carrig - RPA
>>>Archaeologist
>>>BLM - Dillon Field Office
>>>1005 Selway Drive
>>>Dillon, MT 59725
>>>(406)683-8029
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
--
Mark C. Branstner, RPA
Historic Archaeologist
Illinois State Archaeological Survey
Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
209 Nuclear Physics Lab, MC-571
23 East Stadium Drive
Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: 217.244.0892
Fax: 217.244.7458
Cell: 517.927.4556
[log in to unmask]
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