Just 30 years remain before more than 85% of remaining prehistoric coastal shell middens will disappear. For 20 years, Alan Button has researched these ancient libraries portraying a coastal culture of which previously little was known. A new site is now being explored, viewed to have been used to process quahog and horse mussel shell for wampum and mother-of-pearl. Unfortunately, local state, college, and political figures show little support to collect material from these sites before they are gone. And at age 71, Mr. Button has but a few years remaining to continue this vital research.