Shells

by Cheryl Claassen

Overview

This book is an encyclopedic treatment of shell analysis with material suitable for students and professional archaeologists and paleontologists. It covers the history of archaeological interest in shells, the biology of freshwater and marine mollusks, and critically discusses current techniques, methods, and research problems. What can shells tell us about the environmental characteristics and ancient habitats or about the people who collected them? These and other fascinating questions are raised in this authoritative, accessible text.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521578523
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	11/28/1998
Series:	Cambridge Manuals in Archaeology
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	284
Product dimensions:	7.09(w) x 9.88(h) x 0.87(d)

Table of Contents

1. The archaeology of shell matrix sites; 2. Shelled animals: biology and predation; 3. Diagenesis and taphonomy; 4. Quantification of archaeological shells; 5. Palaeoenvironmental reconstruction; 6. Season of death techniques; 7. Dietary reconstruction; 8. The shell artifact; 9. Shells and social organization.

Editorial Reviews

"...both Claassen and Cambridge Press are to be commended to their devotion to providing the archaeological community with such a useful volume." Journal of Middle Atlantic Archaeology

From the Publisher