National Register of Historic Places

Big Ram Site

Ram Island, Androscoggin County, Maine
Listed
November 14, 1992
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
92001515

About this property

The Big Ram Site, designated Site 36.32 by the Maine Archeological Survey, is a prehistoric archaeological site on Ram Island, an island in the Androscoggin River in Turner, Maine. The site, excavated in 1987, yielded ceramic and other artifacts dating to two periods of occupation, c. 100–600 CE, and c. 1400–1700 CE. The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. The Big Ram Site is located on Ram Island, one of a small cluster of islands in the Androscoggin River roughly 1 mile (1.6 km) downriver from Maine State Route 219. The soil of the wooded island is sandy, and is subject to occasional flooding that leaves additional deposits. The site on the island was identified by survey in 1987, at which time it was subjected to test excavations. In addition to artifacts found at the site, there is evidence of at least one habitation layer from which charcoal and fire-cracked rocks were removed. Stone artifacts recovered include flakes of quartz and rhyolite, while burnt seeds and ceramic pottery fragments were also found. The ceramics, which were not datable in the present context, are consistent with finds from other, datable sites representing two separate periods of occupation. The first, a find with a smooth surface and dentate markings, is similar to finds dated elsewhere to the Middle Woodland Period (c. 100–600 CE), while another fragment, with an incised exterior, is similar to Late Woodland or early contact-period finds (c. 1300–1750 CE). The site is significant as a well-preserved, well stratified site containing clear evidence of occupation during two periods. National Register of Historic Places listings in Androscoggin County, Maine

Location

Ram Island, Androscoggin County, Maine

Categories

PREHISTORIC
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
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Timeline
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Questions about this property

When was Big Ram Site listed on the National Register?

Big Ram Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 14, 1992.

What type of historic resource is Big Ram Site?

Big Ram Site is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Big Ram Site?

The period of significance for Big Ram Site is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Big Ram Site?

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