Freshwater Mussel Identification and Analysis from the River Bend Site, 48NA202

Summary

The subject of freshwater mussels in Wyoming archaeology is of more importance than might first appear and seems not to have been recognized by students of Wyoming archaeology. A significant body of data exists concerning mussels’ biological description, ecology, and relationships as well as the archaeological identification and prehistoric cultural connections of mussels. The following draws on those data and applies it to an example of Wyoming’s archaeologically recovered mussels from the River Bend site (48NA202). Many different aspects of freshwater mussel valves are potentially available for archaeological identification. Just as with other kinds of faunal elements, it is possible to identify species, side, portion, sex, age, and time of death if the appropriate parts of the animal are preserved. Based on those identifications, it might then be possible to reconstruct a part of the local environment, to evaluate the importance of mussels in the site inhabitants’ diet, and to develop hypotheses about the human or social nature of resource utilization. Some, but not all, of these factors are actually realizable with the River Bend site specimens. This effort is one in a continuing series of identifications and analyses detailing the occurrences of freshwater mussels at Great Plains archaeological sites (Lippincott 2000).

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Wyoming Archaeologist 2005

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Contact(s): Marcia Peterson

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