
Shells
Cheryl Claassen(Author)
Cambridge University Press
Published on 28. November 1998
Book
Hardback
288 pages
978-0-521-57036-7 (ISBN)
Description
Cheryl Claassen offers an authoritative, readable and clear guide to the study of shells, which is addressed to students and professional archaeologists and palaeontologists. She considers the history of archaeological interest in shells, the biology of freshwater and marine molluscs, and critically discusses current techniques, methods, and research problems. Drawing on examples worldwide, and covering prehistoric and historic periods, among the topics covered are: is shell deposit natural or cultural? How long do shells last? What can shells tell us about the environmental characteristics and ancient habitats or about the people who collected them? What symbolic roles have shells served in human societies? This is a well balanced account, and all aspects of the subject are clearly represented.
Reviews / Votes
'... superb reference work ... it is clearly written, concise, well-illustrated and thorough treatment of subject ...'. Royal Anthropological InstituteMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
21 Tables, unspecified; 9 Halftones, unspecified
Dimensions
Height: 255 mm
Width: 179 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
740 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-521-57036-7 (9780521570367)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Content
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.