Hi Robert
Are you working on materials from Cahol Pech?

Leslie
HARF/IMCS


Hello,
Just signed on to this list in hopes of tracking down some information on
Pomacea flagellata.

First some background, I am an archaeologist currently working on a collection
from northwestern Belize in Central America. Several excavations of residences
located in the outskirts of a small Ancient Mayan city encountered middens
(ancient trash heaps) that were loaded with Pomacea sp. shells. These middens
appear to date  from between 400 B.C. and A.D. 200-300. It is fairly clear from
excavations at this site, as well as others across Central America, that these
are being used as a supplementary food source.

Questions,
1. I am currently interested in the potential of this collection to yield paleo-
environmental information. I have found some references that hint there may be
a connection between environmental conditions and shell growth. Does anyone
have any, or references to, information on this? (maybe stable isotope, or
measurement of transverse stria?)

2. Next is a shell morphology question. Male shells develop a flange or lip
around the shell opening. When does this lip begin to form? (how old is the
critter when he starts growing his lip?)

3. Leading from the last question, I have seen male shells in the collection
and was interested if there is a collection bias on the part of the Ancient
Maya, i.e. did the Maya prefer females to males, or visa versa? As an addendum
to this question I will also need to know the male / female ratio found in
living populations.

Any personal knowledge, references, clues or random hints in the right
direction would be greatly appreciated. As far as a concrete research design
goes things are still at the formative stage and will likely be shaped by any
help I find here.

Thanks,

Robert J. Lichtenstein R. P. A.
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