Native American Archaeology around Casco Bay and the lower Kennebec
July 22, 2026 - 7pm
Bath Freight Shed
Arthur Speiss, PhD, Senior Archaeologist, Maine Historic Preservation Commission
This presentation focuses on the archaeology of the period from the end of the ice age until European arrival, including a discussion of the pre-European artifacts found at the Fort St George site at the mouth of the Kennebec River.
This is the seventh and last lecture in the 2026 Summer Lecture Series, as the planned talk by Jeffrey Brain has been cancelled. The lectures will be held on Wednesday evenings at the Bath Freight Shed (27 Commercial St, Bath Maine). The recording will be available below and on YouTube shortly after the lecture.
The lectures are free, but if you consider them valuable, please donate to Maine’s First Ship in person or online.
Arthur Spiess earned his PhD in Anthropology from Harvard University in 1978. Since then, he has been employed by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission as an archaeologist, a job that involves locating, identifying, and protecting significant archaeological sites. His work includes nominating sites to the National Register of Historic Places, reviewing development projects that require archeological surveys, and drafting legislation for land regulations and land planning.
Dr. Speiss finds archeological survey work, research, public education, and writing to be particularly rewarding. Throughout his career, he has been on the Board of the Maine Archeological Society and has been committed to developing the positive aspects that come when professional and avocational archeologists work together.
Dr. Spiess has served as the Editor of Archeology of Eastern North America for the Eastern States Archeological Federation since 1992. He lives in Freeport, Maine.