Shell Artefacts

Shells were an important commodity in the prehistoric and ancient worlds. Dating back to the Palaeolithic period, shells are among the earliest symbolic artefacts and are a key indicator of human cognitive evolution. In this volume, Daniella B. Bar-Yosef Mayer offers a multi-disciplinary, global survey of shell artefacts in human history. Integrating approaches from biominerology, palaeontology, and geoarchaeology, she shows how humans exploited shells as fundamental component of material culture, alongside lithics and ceramics. Bar-Yosef Mayer traces how the transition to farming was accompanied by technological advances and innovations as reflected in new artfefact types, including decorative objects, such as pendants and bangles, as well as tools and vessels, such as containers and fish hooks. Her study also considers the use of shell money as currency in historical periods. Featuring examples of shell technology from around the world, this volume serves as an introduction to the topic and is suitable for use in courses human prehistory and early civilizations.