전자저널 > 전자저널 > Seasonality of shellfish collection determined by growth-line analysis of the hard clam, Meretrix petechialis (Lamarck) recovered from the Daejuk-ri Shell Middens, Seosan, Korea

Seasonality of shellfish collection determined by growth-line analysis of the hard clam, Meretrix petechialis (Lamarck) recovered from the Daejuk-ri Shell Middens, Seosan, Korea

Deog-im An and Dong-Ki Ryu

Hanseo University, Seosan 356-706, Korea. Kunsan National University, Gunsan 573-701, Korea.

In this study, growth-line analysis was carried out on the hard clam (Meretrix petechialis) recovered from the Neolithic Age Daejuk-ri Shell Middens, Seosan, Korea, with aim to determine the seasonality of shellfish collection and site occupation. Growth increments of 206 specimens of the clam were examined. The marginal index (MI) of the archaeological specimens was calculated and was compared to the monthly marginal index of modern specimens under the assumption that the growth pattern was the same as it is today. MI of the archaeological specimens ranged from 0.13 to 1.29 and was divided into four categories: < 0.63, spring; 0.63-0.76, summer; 0.76-0.89, fall; ? 0.89, winter collection. As a result, of 206 specimens, 170 specimens (82.5%) represented spring, 18 (8.7%) summer, 10 (4.9%) fall and 8 (3.9%) winter collection. The results suggest year-round shellfish collection at the sites, with an emphasis on spring. Considering these results it can be inferred that the sites were occupied throughout the year.

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