midden
/'midn/
Học thuậtThân thiện
A small midden of discarded oyster shells and animal bones sits near the ancient campsite.
Definition
- Noun:
- A refuse heap; a dunghill: A "midden" is a pile of waste, dung, or domestic refuse.
- (Archaeology) A prehistoric refuse heap: In archaeology, a "midden" is a mound marking an ancient settlement site, containing shells, animal bones, tools, and other domestic debris.
Examples of Usage
- General Noun:
- The farmer cleared the midden behind the barn.
- A foul smell rose from the midden.
- Archaeological Noun:
- The excavation of the shell midden revealed details about the diet of early inhabitants.
- This coastal midden contains layers of oyster shells and fish bones.
Advanced Usage
- Kitchen midden: A specific term, now largely historical, for a prehistoric refuse heap containing domestic waste, especially food remains like shells and bones.
- The term "kitchen midden" was coined by 19th-century archaeologists.
Variants and Related Words
- Middenstead (n, archaic): A site where a midden is located; a farmyard.
- Middening (n, rare): The act of creating or adding to a midden.
Synonyms
- Dunghill: A heap of dung or manure.
- Dump: A site for depositing waste.
- Mound (in archaeological context): A heap of earth and artifacts.
- Refuse heap: A pile of discarded material.
Related Phrases
- Midden archaeology: The study of ancient refuse deposits to understand past human activity and environment.
- Midden archaeology provides clues about ancient diets and trade.
A small midden of discarded oyster shells and animal bones sits near the ancient campsite.
Noun
- a heap of dung or refuse
- (archeology) a mound of domestic refuse containing shells and animal bones marking the site of a prehistoric settlement