1. plural of midden; heaps of shells, bones, and other refuse from human occupation, especially at archaeological sites
Usage: archaeology; often used in plural form
2. plural of midden; dungheaps or manure piles, especially in rural or historical contexts
Usage: chiefly British; archaic or dialectal

Examples

• Archaeologists excavated several middens to learn about the diet of ancient peoples.
• The shell middens along the coast revealed evidence of seafood consumption thousands of years ago.
• Bone fragments found in the middens helped researchers understand hunting practices.
• Kitchen middens are valuable sources of information about past human settlements.
• The site contained multiple middens dating back to the Neolithic period.