Mount Pleasant in Charleston County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Shell Rings and Shell Middens
Photographed by Craig Swain, May 3, 2010
1. Shell Rings and Shell Middens Marker - Front
Shell rings and shell middens found along the SC coast were made by Native Americans 3000-4000 years ago. Several have been discovered in the East Cooper area. The rings, composed largely of shell, animal bone and pottery were sometimes used as habitation sites. Some middens contain post holes, structural remains and large pits used to steam shellfish.
(Reverse):
The main purpose of the rings remains a mystery. They may have been the gradual accumulation of shell and refuse at the sites, perhaps built for ceremonial purposes or created as public monuments. The nature of the rings suggests that inhabitants successfully harvested natural resources which allowed nomadic bands eventually to settle at permanent locations.
Erected 2004.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Man-Made Features.
Location. 32° 51.168′ N, 79° 46.904′ W. Marker is in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, in Charleston County. It is at the intersection of Rifle Range Road (State Highway S10-51) and Old Marsh Parkway, on the right when traveling east on Rifle Range Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mount Pleasant SC 29466, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Lowcountry. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least
this page online
Another marker is no longer nearby. Cook's Old Field Cemetery / Copahee Plantation and Hamlin Beach (was approx. 1.2 miles away but has been confirmed missing).
Photographed by Craig Swain, May 3, 2010
2. Shell Rings and Shell Middens Marker - Reverse
Photographed by Craig Swain, May 3, 2010
3. Shell Rings and Shell Middens Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on November 2, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 14, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,172 times since then and 48 times this year. Last updated on September 19, 2010, by Gerig M. Huggins of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 14, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.
