Shell midden (Taiwan)
Shell Midden, or shell mound is an archaeological feature that is presented as a pile of seashells. The presence of shell middens indicates a subsistence relying on aquatic resources.
In addition to large amounts of seashells, discarded pottery sherds, stone tools, animal bones, and fish bones were also often found in middens. Middens are distributed from northern to southern Taiwan, as well as outlying islands. Archaeological cultures that have been discovered to have middens include Tahu Culture and Niaosung Culture in southern Taiwan; Fantzuyuan Culture in central Taiwan; Shihsanhang Culture and Yuanshan Culture in northern Taiwan[1]; and the Liang Tao Tao Wei (LTTW) Archaeological Site on Liang island, Beigan Township, Lienchiang County (the Matsu Islands) also found shell middens that can be dated back to 8,300 to 7,000 years ago (B.P.; or 6,351-5,051 BC)[2]
Middens in Yuanshan Culture are the most famous, so it is sometimes called “Midden Culture” as well. The thick deposits of midden in a large area had been found and investigated during the Japanese Colonial Period[3], along with human bones[3]. Middens with human bones were also found at the Liang Tao Tao Wei (LTTW) Archaeological Site. The two skeletons unearthed at LTTW are well preserved. The establishment of nucleic acid sequences for the human bones collected at LTTW is one of the most significant discoveries in recent times[2].
Middens contain rich calcium carbonate, which can effectively neutralize the acidity of the soil. The calcium carbonate mitigates the decomposition of human and animal bones, providing well-preserved research materials for archaeologists. Aside from indicating subsistence at the time, the seashells can also be analyzed to obtain information on diet preferences, harvest seasons, and environmental formations.[1]
There are also shell middens found in Japan. The first discovery of Omori shell mounds was in 1877 (Meiji 10) by American zoologist Edward Sylvester Morse, shells, animal bones, pottery, and stone tools were unearthed after the excavation, which attracted attention. The excavation was also known as the "Birthplace of Japanese Archaeology" because it was the first academic excavation in Japan[4]. Although shell middens can be seen in the early Jomon period in Japan, they are not common in the Yayoi period and the Kofun period.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 陳珮瑜 (Chen Pei-Yu) (2009-09-09). "貝塚". 臺灣大百科全書 (in 中文). 文化部. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "亮島島尾考古遺址". 國家文化資產網 (in 中文). Archived from the original on 2021-11-27. Retrieved 2022-12-20. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 曹銘宗; 張仁豪 (2000-12-08). "劉益昌：人骨出土 有助研究圓山文化墓葬". 聯合報 (in 中文). Retrieved 2022-12-20.
- ↑ "大森貝塚遺跡庭園". LIVE JAPAN. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
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