Archaeology and Biogeography of Prehistoric Freshwater Mussel Shell in Mississippi (BAR International)

The southeastern United States is home to the richest, most diverse freshwater mussel faunas on the planet, and Mississippi is no exception in this regard. Until fairly recent times, however, only qualitative lists of taxa were available and/or sampling was unsystematic and spotty. More recent work has taken place in waterways that have been significantly impacted by erosion, other forms of water pollution, and impoundment in modern times. Thus, even the best modern studies could benefit from a better knowledge of ranges and community characteristics as they existed prehistorically, when human impact, though present, was minimal. We present herein a robust synthesis of pre-industrial mussel distributions and, to a lesser degree of precision, relative abundances in the state. The Southeastern United States Is Home To The Richest, Most Diverse Freshwater Mussel Faunas On The Planet, And Mississippi Is No Exception In This Regard. Until Fairly Recent Times, However, Only Qualitative Lists Of Taxa Were Available And/or Sampling Was Unsystematic And Spotty. More Recent Work Has Taken Place In Waterways That Have Been Significantly Impacted By Erosion, Other Forms Of Water Pollution, And Impoundment In Modern Times. Thus, Even The Best Modern Studies Could Benefit From A Better Knowledge Of Ranges And Community Characteristics As They Existed Prehistorically, When Human Impact, Though Present, An[d] To This End This Work Presents A Robust Synthesis Of Pre-industrial Mussel Distributions And Relative Abundances In The State.--publisher's Description. Old Shell And Modern Problems : The Applied Value Of Archaeological Freshwater Mussel Remains -- Time, Space And Form In Archaeological Shell Assemblages From Mississippi -- Methods And Sample Descriptions -- Discussion Of Species -- Summary And Conclusions. Evan Peacock, Cliff Jenkins, Paul F. Jacobs, Joseph Greenleaf. Includes Bibliographical References. Front Cover Title Page Copyright Table of Contents List of Figures Acknowledgements Chapter 1 - Old Shell and Modern Problems: The Applied Value of Archaeological Freshwater MusselRemains Chapter 2 - Time, Space, and Form in Archaeological Shell Assemblages from Mississippi Chapter 3 - Methods and Sample Descriptions Chapter 4 - Discussion of Species Chapter 5 - Summary and Conclusions Bibliography