Shellfishing and shell midden construction in the Saloum Delta, Senegal

Abstract

The Saloum Delta, Senegal, is renowned for its vast shell middens which date to at least 5000BP and in many cases, also contain numerous burials. Though archaeological work has been conducted here for over 70years, the focus has been on obtaining radiocarbon dating sequences and rescue excavation; little is known in detail about the middens or the people who built them. Today, the Sereer Niominka people of the Saloum Delta continue to collect and trade shellfish using traditional methods. This has offered an opportunity to observe these processes in practice, and examine the archaeological footprints they produce. These ethnoarchaeological observations have provided new perspectives on the development of large shell middens that will contribute to a better understanding of the archaeological landscape here and will also be of relevance to midden-rich environments, more widely.