New paper by PalArchGroup member

16.03.2023

New publication by PalArchGroup member Dr. Marjolein D. Bosch on perforations in Columbellidae shells

Dr. Marjolein D. Bosch, PostDoc at the Austrian Archaeological Institute and external lecturer and PalArchGroup member, has just published a paper in Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports on perforations in Columbellidae shells. 

The paper is about personal ornamentation in the Early Upper Palaeolithic (~45-40 ka BP) of Ksâr ‘Akil (Lebanon) and how to see the difference between human made beads and naturally perforated shells. The authors used microCT scans to create models of shell thickness to better understand the relation between shell structure and the distribution of perforation in both archaeological assemblages and beach collected ones. Their results suggest that shells were made into beads from the beginning of their use at the site.

Bosch, M. D., Buck, L. T., & Strauss, A. (2023). Perforations in Columbellidae shells: Using 3D models to differentiate anthropogenic piercing from natural perforations. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 49, 103937. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352409X23001128

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Heat maps of shell thickness in Columbella spp. Top: Columbella adansoni from thanatocoenosis (TF1), Middle: pristine Columbella rustica (RMNH.Mol.203708. a), bottom: Columbella rustica showing boring sponge damage (RMNH.Mol.203708.c). Views left to right: ventral, lateral (opposite aperture), dorsal, lateral (side aperture), apical and basal. Red to blue: thick to thin.

Examples of shell damage in archaeological specimens of Columbella rustica from Ksar ‘Akil, Lebanon Layer XVII (Early Ahmarian).

Flow chart showing the use-life of shell specimens found in archaeological assemblages, green arrows: human modifications, red: perforated shells used as beads by prehistoric humans, blue: perforated shells in archaeological record.