Shellfish exploitation in Stone Age Arctic Norway: procurement patterns and household activities. (2nd January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hood, Bryan C.; Melsæther, Stine Grøvdal
• Is Part Of: Acta borealia. Volume 33:Number 1(2016:Jun.)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 29
• Publication Date: 2016-01-02
• Subjects: Shellfish -- Stone Age -- Norway -- Finnmark -- maritime archaeology; Norway -- Antiquities -- Periodicals; Norway -- History -- Periodicals; Arctic regions -- Antiquities -- Periodicals; Arctic regions -- History -- Periodicals; 936.3
• DOI: 10.1080/08003831.2016.1154673
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0800-3831

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Archaeological evidence for coastal shellfish exploitation in Arctic Norway mostly dates from 5300 to 1500 BC, encompassing the terminal Mesolithic, the Late Stone Age, and the beginning of the Early Metal Period. Shell middens are generally associated with semi-subterranean houses, but may also occur as free-standing deposits. The primary shellfish taxa exploited were Littorina littorea, Arctica islandica and Mytilus edulis . Most of the species utilized were available in the littoral zone and were easily procured in the course of daily household activities, but sub-littoral A. islandica would have required greater investment in procurement technology and time, as well as labor cooperation. Shellfish were an occasional dietary supplement and could also serve as fishing bait. Spatial and temporal variation in shellfish assemblages reflects local marine ecology, sea-level changes, household dynamics, and perhaps field processing. Interpretation of the existing data is constrained by inadequate midden sampling and documentation methods.