Fuller Indian Site in Spanish Fort, Alabama dates back to more than 5,000 years ago

Fuller Indian Site in Spanish Fort, Ala.

My 12-year-old son James and I recently rode down to Baldwin County because he wanted to look at some outdoor gear at one of the stores down there. The weather was fine that day, and we took our time riding down amongst all the beach traffic. After a quick lunch, we decided to take a look at an old Indian site that I’d heard much about over the years – the Fuller Indian Site in Spanish Fort.

Located off Speckled Trout Route, this site sits on a bluff that overlooks Mobile Bay and the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. This site, which is listed on the Alabama Indigenous Mound Trail, consists of a shell midden left behind by Indians who gathered there to eat as far back as 5,000 years ago. (“Midden” is just a fancy word for a trash pile.)

Much of the midden consists of Rangia clam shells. I later learned that these clams are native to the Gulf of Mexico and were consumed in great numbers by Indians in that area. Many of you have no doubt seen these small clam shells along the beaches at Gulf Shores.

James and I found this site nestled in a residential neighborhood, surrounded by upscale homes with luxury vehicles parked in the driveways. When we got out, a woman who was enjoying the sunshine with her dog gave us a friendly wave before returning her attention to the paperback book she was reading. Not far from where we parked, we spotted a historical marker that told us more about the site.

The marker read as follows: This ancient shell midden and the surrounding area were occupied by prehistoric Native Americans dating back 5,000 years. Numerous stone tools and pottery sherds were recovered during a cultural resources study conducted by Archaeological Services, Inc. This archaeological site was donated to the Archaeological Conservancy by the Fuller family in 2006 to be preserved for future generations.

Most of the midden mound is enclosed within a wooden fence, which we crossed for a closer look. Up close, you could see that the mound was made up of thousands of clam shells, many of which were as hard as a rock from age. After a few minutes of exploring and taking pictures, we got back in the truck and headed home.

On our way north, as James napped in the seat beside me, I could not help but think about how much the Fuller Indian Site reminded me of the elaborate shell mounds at Dauphin Island. James and I visited those mounds in August 2017 during a trip to Fort Gaines. Those mounds are contained within a large park that features a network of walking trails that takes visitors in and around the large mounds.

Over the years, I’ve tried to locate and identify any old Indian mounds in Conecuh County but haven’t had much luck. I’ve heard that there are a few on private property, and the owners prefer to keep their locations private. With that said, if you know of an Indian mound in our area and wouldn’t mind showing it to me, please let me know because I am always up for a good field trip.