STORM SURGES AND NOR'EASTERS: GEOARCHAEOLOGY OF THE READY SITE IN SOUTHERN CASCO BAY

A mid to late Holocene archaeological site situated at the south headland of Casco Bay, Maine provides evidence of storm surge events related to past hurricanes and nor'easters. The Ready Site is a deeply stratified site with well-documented, sequential Archaic, Ceramic, and Historic Period components. The archaeological site faces the open ocean to the northeast and is directly adjacent to an isolated marsh deposit and a small fresh water stream.

Detailed analysis of excavated historic and prehistoric deposits revealed the sequential deposition of remains from a 19th century cottage stratified well above Middle to Late Ceramic Period occupations, further stratified above an eroded Late Archaic deposit (ca. 3800-3500 BP). The Ceramic Period components include two intact occupations separated by storm surge and stable beach deposits. These components document the use of marine food resources and cord-wrapped stick pottery. Stone tools recovered from the site indicate that Ceramic Period inhabitants were involved in an intra-regional stone trade network -involving sources from Pennsylvania to northern Labrador.

Detailed sedimentological analysis of columns cut from the excavation units allows correlation of beach deposits over the site area as well as identification of several high-energy depositional events. Documentation of the impact of the October 31, 1991 “Perfect Storm” was made on the site and adjacent marsh area. Past hurricane events documented in the stratigraphic sequences include the 1938 storm.

In conjunction with the archaeological testing, vibracores were taken from seven transects in the marsh deposits. These cores revealed marsh and storm surge deposits formed above Presumpscott Formation deposits dating to 11980± BP. The radiocarbon dated sequences are described and articulated with the archaeological stratigraphy and human occupations in this evolving landscape.