Carlston Annis Shell Mound

Carlston Annis Shell Mound is a major archaeological site on Kentucky’s Green River and one of the key shell middens for studying Archaic communities in the lower Ohio Valley. Formed over thousands of years, the mound preserved evidence of riverside living, shellfish processing, toolmaking, burial practices, and diet. Excavations beginning in 1939 uncovered 129 features, nearly 20,000 artifacts, 390 human burials, and 28 intentionally buried dogs. Finds of shell, flint, bone, and antler tools, along with abundant beads, fishhooks, and plant remains, especially hickory nuts, make the site especially important for understanding Archaic technology and daily life.

Cromwell, Kentucky · United States