Mollusc Shells in Swedish Archaeology – Occurrence, Significance and Potentials

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to give a background and brief history of archaeomalacology—a new field of science in Swedish archaeology. The focus will be on the general pattern of shell-bearing evidence in different contexts. Molluscs live in a wide range of habitats both on land and in water. Subfossil evidence of mollusc shells is mainly restricted to areas with calcareous bedrock, and non-acid sediments and soils. Analysis and ecological interpretation of subfossil molluscs plays an important role as cultural and environmental evidence on many archaeological sites, particularly in Europe and the New World. Land snail analysis has not previously been used in Sweden in a specifically archaeological context. Since 1988 the author has been working with subfossil mollusc shells from sites in the provinces of Uppland, Gotland, Västergötland and Östergötland, southern Sweden. A survey of old excavation reports shows that mollusc shells occasionally have been found on archaeological sites. Some shells have been identified to species level and are included in the reports, whereas other shells have been neglected and are simply stored together with the artefacts in the museums. The author has identified and re-examined some of the older shell remains. Results from the author's own studies and from previous investigations, 241 direct and 16 indirect shell-bearing evidence, are discussed. Some shells have been used as personal objects, while other are used as technological tool or eaten as food. The future possibility of using archaeomalacology as a tool for palaeoecological reconstruction in Sweden is suggested.