Gardiner Pond Shell Midden

Gardiner Pond Shell Midden is a prehistoric archaeological site in Middletown, Rhode Island, on the grounds of the Norman Bird Sanctuary. Centered on a large shell midden and also known as RI-101W, it has yielded evidence that people used the area during the Middle and Late Woodland periods. Recovered artifacts, including hoes, planting tools, and stone mortars and pestles, show its value for understanding both food gathering and agricultural activity. Named for early settler George Gardiner, the site gained formal recognition for its significance with its listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.

Middletown, Rhode Island · United States