Santander, February 19th-22nd 2008 - Aranzadi

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would some sort have was been used very to hold difficult the cowrie unless shell. a grip The of
small undertaken number on of north British wear studies Mesolithic that material have been
not explore the use of shell as a raw material, did
however ments consistent borers with with evidence making of holes rotational were sometimes
Hardy identified 2004, 2007, (Dumont in press). 1985, Finalyson 2000,
moverence
A selection collection of at cowrie the Royal shells Museum from a modern of Scotland refe-
was which examined. occured Around naturally. 20% A of study the shells of tiger have cowries holes
many (Cypraea of the Tigris) breakage in Oceania patterns has found demonstrated these shells that
pogenic are in fact factors the result (Spennemann of biogenic 1993). rather This than may anthro-
be the case with the Scottish examples. also
some The modern perforated shells cowrie with natural shells perforations, from Sand, were and
examined ML 2305).to using 100 an magnifications optical light microscope (Fig 2a). These (Meiji
include two with seven opposing cowrie perforations. shells from Microscopic Sand including
mination revealed that all these perforations have exa-
sharp ble difference irregular between borders the and holes there in was shells no observa-
archaeological sites and the natural perforations found on
cowries collected from the beach (Fig. 2b). in
KAREN HARDY
three An Mesolithic additional shell sixty-eight middens cowrie in Oronsay shells (Cnoc from
Coig, were also Caisteal examined nan Gillean by eye of II which and Cnoc sixty-three Sligeach)
large double perforations. None of these shells had
facture showed any wear clear suggesting evidence either use. of A artificial sample manu-
perforated cowries was selected and the distance of 10
between were measured the near (Table sides 1). and There far is sides a degree of the of holes
sistency in the size of the holes and the distance con-
between the result the of predation holes which by may an animal indicate with that pincers. they are
Full width Nearest distance Distance between Distance between
of shell (mm) between holes (mm) outer limits nearest and outer
limits of holes (mm)
(size of holes)
of holes (mm)
17
11
4.1 9.2 5.1
12
3 9 6
12.7
4 9.1 5.1
13
5.2 9.9 4.7
12
5.2 10 4.8
8.5
3.9 9.7 5.8
7.8
3.2 7.5 4.3
7.8
2.7 6.7 4
8.9
3.2 7.1 3.9
10.9
3 7.7 4.7
9
3.5 9.5 6
1.9
2 7 85
3.9 8.9 5
78
3.1 7.2 4.1
15 4.7
3.1
9.4
8
4.7
4.9
Mean 3.6 8.4 4.9
Table 1. Size of perforations, cowrie shells Cnoc Sligeach.
a.
b.
Figure 2.
cowrie shell
Modern
hole at 40
cowrie
magnifications
shell hole
(Scotland’s
at 40 magnifications.
First Settlers
Figure
project).
2b, Sand
Figure 3. Comparison of sizes of cowrie shell holes.
Key:1: Length of shell; 2: Nearest distance between holes; 3. Distance between
outer limits of holes; 4 Distance between nearest and outer limits of holes.
cowrie Use shell wear holes traces (Taborin on experimentally 1993) demonstrate perforated
racteristic traces none of which was present on cha-
of the holes in the artefacts from Sand; indeed any
clear use-wear was observed. no
recovered It is possible from these therefore middens that could the cowrie be items shells
had not yet been used. that
MUNIBE Suplemento - Gehigarria 31, 2010
S.C. Aranzadi. Z.E. Donostia/San Sebastián