Cregg

Don't I remember you found some freshwater mussels in your senior honors
work from Hermann, Missouri, in the 1850s=1880s strata?

Dave Browman

> Bill,
>
> I kinda think it's not too unusual to find some freshwater mussel shells
> on historic sites in the Midwest, and possibly in the Northeast, too, but
> can't come up with any specific references, except for this:
>
> Teagan Schweitzer identified five freshwater mussel species in an
> assemblage overwhelmingly dominated by oyster at the Speaker's House in
> Trappe, Pennsylvania. The shells may date from as early as the mid-18th
> century up to 20th century.  She suggests they might have been used as
> feed and/or a calcium source for chickens (T. A. Schweitzer 2010,
> Philadelphia Foodways Ca. 1750-1850: an Historical Archaeology of Cuisine.
> University of Pennsylvania Dissertation. Should be available online, or
> let me know if you want a copy).
>
> Cregg
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bill
> Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2013 9:06 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Freshwater mussels on 18th century sites
>
> Recent excavations on an early 18th century site in central Delaware
> recovered some freshwater mussel shells amongst the faunal remains.
> Normally freshwater mussels are associated with Native American sites in
> the Middle Atlantic region.  This presents the possibility of a Native
> American presence or interaction with the European inhabitants of the site
> (circa
> 1720 to 1735).  Several glass seed beads recovered from floatation further
> support this theory.  My question is: Has anyone found freshwater mussel
> shells on non-Native American 18th century sites in the region?
>
> Thanks for your input in advance!
>
> Bill Liebeknecht, MA, RPA
> Principal Investigator
> Hunter Research, Inc.
> Trenton, New Jersey
>