This is why I find it quite strange that dogwhelks are often found in
significant numbers on sites. Ferriters Cove, Ireland, is another
example and I think some of the Scottish middens recently
investigated by Caroline Wickham-Jones and Karen Hardy are the same.
I'm always wary in using modern perceptions about what is good
and not good to eat, especially after all the recent discussion
on tortoises and turtle soup. Some species of shellfish are not
regarded as edible now, or are not particularly popular but I guess
may still be consumed, however dogwhelk seems to stand out as a
species which is frequently being described as really bad for eating
and for bait.
Jim, I'm still pinning my hopes on Mrs Beeton!
> Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 15:49:50 +0100
> Reply-to: Zooarchaeology is the analysis of Animal remains from archaeological sites <[log in to unmask]>
> From: tpoc1 <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: dogwhelks
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Regarding the palatibility of dogwhelks, I grew up on a coast where
> dogwhelks were numerous. Local 'received wisdom' (oral tradition if you
> prefer) was that dogwhelks are toxic. Nobody had ever seen that in a
> book or heard it on the wireless; nobody knew anybody who had been
> poisoned by eating dogwhelks; but everybody knew for sure that dogwhelks
> are not to be eaten. As a result, despite having eaten most things that
> come out of the sea, I cannot contribute anything useful to the debate
> on dogwhelk extraction or palatibility!
>
> Terry O'Connor
>
>
> Nicky Milner wrote:
> >
> > It is a Mesolithic site, yes. No, I don't think there is any evidence
> > for the use of molluscan textile dye before the Bronze Age but I
> > think sometimes when dogwhelk is found on a site, be it mesolithic or
> > later, purple dye is often mentioned, perhaps because dogwhelks
> > are thought to be so unpalatable.
> > nicky
> >
> > > Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 09:31:46 -0400
> > > Reply-to: Zooarchaeology is the analysis of Animal remains from archaeological sites <[log in to unmask]>
> > > From: Daniella Bar-Yosef <[log in to unmask]>
> > > Subject: Re: dogwhelks
> > > To: [log in to unmask]
> >
> > > Nicky -
> > > Do I understand correctly that this is a Mesolithic site?
> > > If so, is there any evidence for the use of molluscan textile dye before
> > > the Bronze Age?
> > >
> > > Daniella
> > >
> > > Dr. Daniella E. Bar-Yosef
> > > Peabody Museum
> > > Harvard University
> > > 11 Divinity Ave.
> > > Cambridge MA 02138
> > > U.S.A.
> > >
> > > tel: (617) 495-1279
> > > fax: (617) 496-8041
> > > email: [log in to unmask]
> > >
> > Dr Nicky Milner
> > Sir James Knott Research Fellow
> > Dept. of Archaeology
> > University of Newcastle
> > Newcastle-upon-Tyne
> > NE1 7RU
> > 0191 222 5754 (office)
>
Dr Nicky Milner
Sir James Knott Research Fellow
Dept. of Archaeology
University of Newcastle
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
NE1 7RU
0191 222 5754 (office)
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