My archaeological research focuses upon the coast of Maine, where shell
middens are numerous, and lobsters are presently hugely abundant.
Judging from their historic abundance, one would expect lobsters to be
present in shell midden faunal samples at some level, yet I've never
found a single fragment. My colleague, Prof. Robert Steneck of the
University of Maine, has done extensive research on local lobster
populations and he and I have had a long and unresolved debate about
this absence. I point out to him that as a polysaccharide, lobster
shell/chitin is not likely to survive, even in shell middens (too much
latent energy) which preserve other kinds of animal hard tissue very
well. Bob counters that the present abundance of lobster is more due to
the recent depletion of its main predator, cod, and that it may have
been scarce in prehistoric times when cod were abundant and eating small
lobsters. It will be interesting to see whether this issue gets picked
up in conversations at the lobster conference.
Bruce J. Bourque
Bates College
Lewiston, ME 04240
Kat Szabo wrote:
> Hi Danny,
>
> I know of this reference but it's fairly obscure:
> Leach, B. Foss, and Atholl J. Anderson. "Prehistoric exploitation of
> crayfish in New Zealand." /Birds of a feather. Osteological and
> archaeological papers from the South Pacific in honour of RJ
> Scarlett.(New Zealand Archaeological Association Monograph 11)/
> (1979): 141-164.
>
> Possibly Foss or Atholl would be able to pass on a copy directly.
>
> Best,
> Kat.
>
>
> Dr. Katherine Szabó
> QEII Research Fellow
> School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
> University of Wollongong
> Northfields Ave
> Wollongong NSW 2522
> Australia
>
> Ph: +61 2 4221 5846 (office)
> Ph: +61 (0) 423 226 837 (mobile)
> Webpage: http://cas.uow.edu.au/members/UOW094309.html
> http://uow.academia.edu/KatSzabo/About
>
>
> On 30 January 2013 00:33, Daniella Bar-Yosef <[log in to unmask]
> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
>
> Dear colleagues,
> Could you please send me information on lobster remains from
> archaeological sites? I know there are a few, not too many, and
> any information would be most helpful. This will serve both my
> colleauge, Prof. Spanier (see his message below) as well as myself.
> Many thanks and best wishes,
> Daniella
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
>> *From: *Ehud Spanier <[log in to unmask]
>> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
>> *Date: *January 29, 2013 2:49:40 PM GMT+02:00
>> *To: *'Danny Bar Yosef' <[log in to unmask]
>> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
>> *Subject: **Prehistoric information about utilization of lobsters
>> by human*
>>
>> Dear Dani;
>>
>> In the next International lobster conference (to be held in
>> Mexico in 2014) I intend to present a survey on " History of the
>> utilization of lobsters". I would like to include in it also
>> information, if available, on utilization of lobsters in
>> prehistoric and or early historical times (any species of
>> lobster, anywhere in the world and in any prehistoric/historic
>> period).
>> I would appreciate if you let me know of any report that may
>> refer to it or/and you refer me to other colleagues in Israel or
>> abroad that can help in this matter.
>>
>> Many thanks in advance
>>
>> Shalom
>>
>> Ehud
>>
>> Prof. Ehud Spanier
>> Marine Biologist & Ecologist
>> The Leon Recanati Institute for Maritime Studies
>> & Department of Maritime Civilizations
>> The Leon H. Charney School for Marine Sciences
>> University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa 31905, ISRAEL
>> Office phone: 972-4-8240782 Cellular phone: 972-503-199429
>> Fax: 972-4-8240493
>> e-mail: [log in to unmask]
>> <mailto:[log in to unmask]> / [log in to unmask]
>> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
>
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