Prehistoric Indian Campsite
Seabrook, Harris County, Texas
Marker Inscription
In this vicinity are the remains of a prehistoric Indian refuse pile, comprised mainly of clam shells. Archeologists call such sites "shell middens." They are the result of centuries of shellfish harvesting by early Indian groups. shells found at this site have been identified as belonging to the rangia cuneata (common rangia) clam, a species once found in abundant numbers in Galveston Bay. As the shell midden grew in size over the years, it became the foundation for a large Indian campsite. Stone tools and pottery uncovered here are evidence of the later occupation. Although the tribal origins of the Indians cannot be determined, it is known that both Orcoquisac and Karankawa once lived in the area in historic times. Shell middens similar to this one were once more common along the streams feeding into the bay. Storms, subsidence, and natural erosion, however, have destroyed many, as have mining operations that used the shells for road construction projects. As a result, this is one of the best remaining examples of a prehistoric midden and campsite in Harris County. Because of its significance, the site has been afforded special protection as a State Archeological Landmark.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
For centuries, Native peoples harvested rangia clams from Galveston Bay and discarded the shells here, building up a "shell midden" that eventually grew large enough to serve as the foundation for a substantial campsite. Stone tools and pottery found in the mound reveal later occupation, and while the earliest inhabitants can't be named, both the Orcoquisac and Karankawa are known to have lived in the area in historic times. Storms, erosion, and shell mining have destroyed most such sites, making this one of Harris County's best surviving examples.
Why it matters
The midden is a rare, protected window into thousands of years of Indigenous life along the Texas coast, long before any European set foot on the bay.
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Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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