Shell Mound Park
Dauphin Island's beautiful
Shell Mound Park preserves
an important archaeological
site.
A Mississippian Monument
The mounds are formed of
millions of shells, left over
from Indian meals.
Shell Mound Park - Dauphin Island, Alabama
ExploreSouthernHistory.com - Shell Mound Park, Alabama
ExploreSouthernHistory.com - Shell Mound Park, Alabama
Shell Mound Park
Maintained by the Alabama Marine Resources
Division, beautiful Shell Mound Park on Dauphin
Island preserves ancient Indian shell middens.
Dauphin Island's Ancient Mound
Shell Mound Park, located on the north shore
of Alabama's beautiful
Dauphin Island,
preserves one of the most remarkable
archaeological sites in the South.

It is believed that the massive shell middens
date from the Mississippian Era (A.D. 900 -
1500), with University of South Alabama
researchers dating them more specifically to
A.D. 1100 - 1550. They were formed by the
accumulation of debris from meal after meal
of roasted oysters, fish and other delicacies
by early Native Americans.

The archaeology of the site, in fact, is quite
fascinating. According to a 2003 article in the
campus newspaper of the University of South
Alabama (
click here to read the article),
archaeologist Gregory Waselkov believes the
shell mounds at Dauphin Island were built by
people from the Bottle Creek site, a major
Mississippian mound and village site to the
north in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. During the
winter, according to Waselkov, the residents
of Bottle Creek would come down to Dauphin
Island to gather and roast oysters.

Research at the mounds has revealed they
were formed over centuries as meal after
meal of oysters was roasted at the site. So
many oysters were consumed here over
such a long period of time that massive
mounds were eventually formed.

Even as the mounds grew, they were
reclaimed by the forest of the island. One oak
tree in today's 11-acre Shell Mound Park is
thought to be more than 800 years old. It
started growing there when the site was still
in use. The tree, in fact, has witnessed
events on Mobile Bay ranging from the arrival
of French settlers to the American Revolution
and Civil War.

The beautiful trees are not the only unique
plants growing in the park. Botonists have
been surprised by the diversity of rare plants
that grow in the park. Among them are plants
from as far away as the Appalachian
Mountains and the Yucatan region of Mexico.
Researchers believe they probably survive
from original specimens brought to the site
by Indians hundreds of years ago.
that grow in the park. Among these are plants
from as far away as the Appalachian
Mountains and the Yucatan region of Mexico.
Researchers believe they probably survive
from original specimens brought to the site
by Indians hundreds of years ago.

Shell Mound Park is also an important stop
on the Alabama Coastal Birding Trail. A
major point for observing migratory birds, the
park attracts birders from around the country
each spring and fall. All of Dauphin Island, in
fact, is a bird sanctuary.

Shell Mound Park is located on North Iberville
Street on Dauphin Island. To reach the park,
arrive on the island via the Dauphin Island
Parkway, turn left on Bienville Boulevard and
proceed two blocks and then turn left on
North Iberville. The park is free to visit.
Ancient Shell Mound
Grass grows over the ancient
Dauphin Island mounds, but
close inspection reveals the
shells that form them.
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Copyright 2011 by Dale Cox
All rights reserved.