To all on Conch-L a happy holiday season.
To keep this shell related, I would like to mention a book that I received
as a Christmas present.  The book is Shells by Cheryl Claassen, c. 1998
and part of the Cambridge Manuals in Archaeology.  It is a wonderful
introduction to role of mollusks in archeology.  It is 266 pages.

From the back cover; "...history of archeological interest in shells, the
biology of freshwater and marine molluscs, and critically discusses
current techniques, methods and research problems.  ...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?"

Price...don't know, it was a present.  Search Cambridge University Press
or a bookseller such as Amazon.com

Once again, take care and have a happy holiday season.

Charlie
******************************************************************************
Charlie Sturm, Jr
Research Associate - Section of Invertebrate Zoology
                     Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, PA
Assistant Professor - Family Medicine

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