Santander, February 19th-22nd 2008 - Aranzadi

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4. SHELL AS TOOLS
tools Many as they shells are have found, the or potential modified to into be functional used as
objects tools is and well shells known or from pieces many of places shells worked across into
world. There has not yet been any detailed study the
Scotland of the use-wear on limpet and other small in
shells potential from to be middens. used as While tools, in many Scotland shells evidence have the
currently largely restricted to scallops (fam. is
Pectinidae), documentary and evidence cockles for (fam.Cardiidae). the use of limpet There shells is
(fam and there Patellidae) is an account as small of receptacles an ancient highland (Martin 1994)
tom of using a clam or scallop shell (fam. Pectinidae) cus-
for drinking whisky (Johnson and Boswell 2007)
at the Fragments Mesolithic of midden scallop shells site of have Ulva been Cave recorded
et al. 1994) but it is not known whether these (Bonsall
show evidence of being cut or shaped, or whether shells
they scallop have shell any were use found wear. at Sand. Three These pieces include of worked
whole scallop with a segment cut out of it (Fig 6) and one
two evidence scallop of fragments, rounding (Fig one 7a,b). of which displayed clear
KAREN HARDY
Figure 7. 7a Scallop fragment, probably unused; 7b scallop fragment showing
rounding on pointed edge, Sand (Scotland’s First Settlers project).
shell, lines of or natural in the area weakness, near the down hinge the where ray lines the shell of the
thin. The segment cut out of the scallop shell is is
large area very carefully cut out with a corner linkinga
the unlikely vertical to be and natural. horizontal cut in a way that is very
all had Additionally, heavily worn 8 cockleshells edges (Lacaille from 1954) Cnoc and Sligeach
forations on the hinge, though several of the perfo-
per-
appear natural (Fig 8).
Figure 6. Cut scallop Sand (Scotland’s First Settlers project).
rounded This point piece and of scallop was markedly had been worn shaped smooth into alonga
did its edges not appear and around to have the been point used. while Additionally, the other piece
whole scallop was found in fragments refitted. one
The unlikely breakage to be natural, on the scallop shells core from keep Sand their is shape very
well, and when they do break, it is usually along the
Figure 8. Cockle shells from Cnoc Sligeach.
MUNIBE Suplemento - Gehigarria 31, 2010
S.C. Aranzadi. Z.E. Donostia/San Sebastián