HEI: University of the Highlands and Islands
Project Title: Shore life: The contribution of marine molluscs to Iron Age subsistence and social life in Northern Scotland
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What was your research about?
This thesis is a study of the contribution of marine molluscs to the subsistence and social life of the people who inhabited the north of Scotland during the long Iron Age c.700BC to c.AD900. Through a combination of traditional metric zooarchaeological techniques alongside stable isotope analysis, it questions the common assumption that marine molluscs were merely a resource exploited as a foodstuff during time of hardship and famine. The marine mollusc assemblages from eight case study sites were analysed. The sites are Nybster in Caithness; The Cairns, Mine Howe, Swandro, Berst Ness, Pool and Tofts Ness in Orkney; and Old Scatness in Shetland. Through the shell remains from these archaeological sites, the main aim of the study is to discuss the way in which people were exploiting the marine mollusc resource and how they were using them once they were collected. The discussion tackles not only the role molluscs played within Iron Age diet but also examines their use as adornment, within the metalworking process and their association with the dead, among many other potential functions. Much of the current archaeomalacological work that has been undertaken in Scotland in recent decades has been focused upon the Mesolithic of the Western Isles. This study aims to expand upon and complement the current literature. This thesis also aims to highlight the benefit of fully analysing shell assemblages by displaying the wide range of information that can be gained from such a resource.