"Crustaceans were probably more important economically than their
presence in archaeological sites suggests" p.45. Reitz, E.J. and Wing,
E.S. (1999). Zooarchaeology. Cambridge Manuals in Archaeology. Cambridge
University Press.
Inspired by this.... I am currently trying to track down published
references to the study of archaeological crab remains, and am
particularly interested in any literature relating to tropical or
sub-tropical areas. I am currently collaborating with Peter Hogarth (an
Indo-Pacific decapod specialist in the Biology dept. here at York
University) in a regional study of archaeological crab remains from the
Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. The archaeological material comes from a
collection of sites ranging in date from about 6000 - 3000 BP. What
would be particularly useful are more substantial publications which
deal with problems of identification, quantification and size
reconstruction. We are especially interested in any evidence suggesting
size decrease through time from over exploitation. The most common crab
species occurring in our archaeological samples are blue swimming crabs:
Portunidae: Portunus pelagicus (Linnaeus, 1758) and the mud crab:
Portunidae: Scylla serrata (Forsskål, 1755).
Take a quick peek at these websites if you want to see what they look
like:
http://www.ciesm.org/atlas/Portunuspelagicus.html
http://lionfish.ims.usm.edu/~musweb/nis/Scylla_serrata.html
(note the use of a beer can as a photo scale!)
I have come across a few articles by Elizabeth Wing and related
co-workers which include a mention of crabs in their analyses of
bioarchaeological remains from excavations in Florida/the Caribbean
region, BUT can anyone suggest any other published studies? I would
imagine that there must be other literature in the Americas and
particularly in Australia/Oceania/the Pacific which could be of
interest? Any suggestions will be much appreciated.
best wishes,
Mark Beech
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Department of Archaeology
University of York
The King's Manor
York YO1 7EP
UK
Tel: +44 1904 434995
Fax: +44 1904 433902
email: [log in to unmask]
web: http://www-users.york.ac.uk/~mjb117
http://www.markbeech.com
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