Shells [Paperback]

An encyclopaedic treatment of shells, for the student and professional archaeologists and palaeontologists.This book is an encyclopaedic treatment of shell analysis, with material suitable for students and professional archaeologist and paleontologist. It covers the history of archaeological interest in shells, the biology of freshwater and marine molluscs, 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 accessible text.This book is an encyclopaedic treatment of shell analysis, with material suitable for students and professional archaeologist and paleontologist. It covers the history of archaeological interest in shells, the biology of freshwater and marine molluscs, 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 accessible text.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.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 alãD