Deciphering a shell midden
By: edited by Julie K. Stein.
Contributors: Stein, Julie K.
Publisher: Academic Press
Published: 1992
Place of publication: San Diego
Language: eng
Number of pages: 375
Subjects: Kitchen-middens.; Coastal archaeology.; Indians of North America -- Northwest Coast of North America -- Antiquities.; Great Britain -- Antiquities.; Northwest Coast of North America -- Antiquities.
Description: "This book presents the latest research on shell middens: sites that contain shell and are located near coastal and fluvial settings around the world. The shell imparts certain characteristics to sites such as complex discontinuous strata, low densities of artifacts, large volumes of deposits, alkaline chemistry and proximity to fluctuating sea level. The shell midden is often a product of both cultural and non-cultural events, such as saturation of the lower portion of the midden by rising sea level, or differential weathering of shell and bone. These non-cultural events affect cultural interpretations. The book aims to provide a detailed history of shell midden research and a description of procedures and analyses using an example of a Northwest Coast shell midden."--
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.