Abstract
The discard of shells in visible heaps, shell middens in our terminology, need not reflect the consumption locations, but may rather be field processing sites prior to the transport of edible flesh elsewhere, likely inland. The comparison of shell midden locations, sizes and contents from a well-studied section of the Cape west coast of South Africa, against the framework of Metcalf and Barlow's (1992) model of the ‘optimal trade-off between field processing and transport’ leads us to suggest that through time different decisions were made by local shellfish gatherers. In particular, the millennium between 2000 and 3000 years ago stands out as one of deliberate and intense field processing, compared with earlier and later millennia.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
