Hi Oliver:
It is true what you say in the case of some species or genus or
families, but not in all. For example, the genus Fissurella has many
species, but each species lives in a different habitat. Besides the
function of the shell ecofact or artifact (food, recipient, knive,
ritual, etc.) we try to understand the appropiation (im not sure if my
english is correct), how it was collected. For example one fissurella
leave nearshore, but other in the "submareal" which has consecuences in
how was it collected (was it necessary to dive?). Another subject is the
ocean of origin. For example, Pectinidae are available around the world,
or at least in the Atlantic and in the Pacific, but some species (for
example /Argopecten purpuratus)/ are available only in one or only in a
little portion of the shore. That has implications in our
interpretations too, because I work in Chile, southamerica, and many
sites could have shells either from the pacific or from the atlantic,
and to know this has many implications in exchange practices, mobility, etc.
Another issue is the temperature and salinity of water. Also in the case
of /Argopecten purpuratus/ (named Ostion del Norte -north-) vs /Clamys
vitrea/ (ostion del Sur), both species of Pectinidae, they have clear
habitats in the present (North and south of Chile with a limit in
central Chile) but in the past, for example during the Optimum
Climaticum or Althithermal (ca. 5000 a.p.) there was a rise in the
global temperature of the planet and also in the water. That means that
A/rgopecten purpuratus /was available more south than today and it
appears for example in archaeological sites of Concepción where today
doesn´t exist.
And so there are many, many reasons for why is important for us, as
archaeologist, to know the species. Not always is it useful, but in many
cases.
I´ll be happy to continue this conversation because in rare cases this
issue is treated in this list.
Cheers,
Marcela Lucero

Olivier Caro wrote:

> Dear Marcela,
>
> Correct me if I make an error, but I understand that the difference
> between an archeologist and a geologist is that the second needs to
> find _ and identify_ the fossil to better indentify the ground layer,
> when the first has, maybe, less necessity to identify the shell's name
> in a taxonomic tree that the usage of this shell? (decoration, edible,
> symbolic, money...)
> In this case, a cowry can be first: decorative or a piece of money, a
> scallop can be first: decorative, edible or a symbolic item, a venus
> clam a toy, a little tool, or an edible item etc.
> In this case, ...always if I'm not mistaken, the taxonomic
> classification can stop at the generic or family level (venus clam,
> cypraea, oyster), as it is not the most important feature to
> understand the place you're working on. No ?
>
> Monetaria moneta, Pecten jacobaeus are apart, as the symbolic charge
> is affected here to the species more than to the family, but a Lucina
> can stay a Lucina: an edible item whose valves can be used in jewelry,
> like the ostrich eggs in Kalahari...???
>
> In which conditions do you need an accurate identification of the shell?
> I'm just a beginner, here again, something can escape to my attention,
> and I will be happy to learn more about this.
>
> Cheers!
>
> Olivier Caro
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Marcela Lucero" <[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
> To: <[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2005 10:33 PM
> Subject: Re: Acmaeidae and Patellidae dangerous for brain safety
>
> > Hi,
> > i have no answers to your questions, but im an archaeologist that works
> > very offen with shells (my speciality, actually) and I have only the
> > shell to identify the species. So I undersatnd you completely in the
> > problem of how to identify a specimen only by its shell.
> > I will be reading anxiously all your answers.
> >
> > marcela lucero

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