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Expedient Shell Tools from the Northern West Indies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Sharyn Jones O'Day  and
William F. Keegan
Sharyn Jones O'Day
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, P.O. Box 117305, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
William F. Keegan
Affiliation:
Florida Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 117800, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
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Abstract

Our work in the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Haiti, and Jamaica has revealed significant patterning in apparently unretouched molluscan shell objects. In the present paper we conclude that repetitive patterns in shell breakage, especially of queen conch (Strombus gigas), reflect the specific manufacture of forms for use as expedient tools. Expedient tools exhibit only primary modification in which a portion of the source material is removed and shaped, but there is no specific evidence for the preparation of a work edge. Alternatively, expedient tools may display no modification of the raw material except that produced through use. We hypothesize that through controlled breakage large S. gigas and other mollusk shells were modified to create numerous smaller pieces for everyday domestic activities. The key factor here is human intent. Experiments clearly demonstrate that controlled breakage of adult shells produces predictable fragments. Among these are forms that occurred in prehistoric sites throughout the West Indies; many of these forms also exhibit signs of use wear. This type of regional comparison and analysis is important for all archaeologists who work in coastal settings. It is only through such general studies that the sample size is sufficient to facilitate a more complete reconstruction of the aboriginal tool kit.

Resumen

Resumen

Nuestro trabajo en las Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Haiti y Jamaica ha revelado un patrón importante en objetos de conchas de moluscos aparentemente no alterados. En el presente trabajo concluimos que el patron repetitivo de ruptura en conchas, especialmente en Lambi (Strombus gigas), es un artefacto de la fabricación específica de formas relacionadas al uso de la herramienta. Las herramientas de poca elaboración solo exhiben modificaciones primarias donde una porción del material original ha sido apartado y se la ha dado forma, no existiendo evidencias específicas de la preparación de un borde o canto de trabajo. Alternativamente, estas herramientas de fabricación rápida pueden no mostrar modificaciones del material original, excepto las producidas por el propio uso. Nuestra hipótesis sugiere que a través de fracturas controladas, grandes S. gigas y otras conchas de moluscos fueron modificados para crear numerosas piezas pequeñas para el uso doméstico cotidiano. El factor clave aquí es la intensión humana. Nuestra experimentación con este material demuestra claramente que fracturas controladas en conchas adultas producen fragmentos predecibles. Entre estos fragmentos existen formas que ocurrieron en sitios prehistóricos a través de las Antillas. Este tipo de comparación regional análisis es importante para todos aquellos arqueólogos que trabajan en areas costeras. Solo a través de trabajos generales como este se alcanzará un tamaño de muestra suficientemente grande que facilitará una reconstrucción mas completa del juego de herramientas aborígenes.

Type
Reports
Information
Latin American Antiquity , Volume 12 , Issue 3 , September 2001 , pp. 274 - 290
Copyright
Copyright © Society for American Archaeology 2001

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