Assessing Dietary Strategies in Neotropical Shell Middens: Further Evidence of the Utility of Column Samples in Zooarchaeological Investigations

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2025: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Ongoing analysis of rich and diverse samples of vertebrate bone from Sitio Drago (SD), Bocas del Toro, Panama illustrates the importance of fine-grained sampling in understanding past subsistence strategies at the site. The analysis of charred macro- and micro-plant remains recovered from 30 x 30 x 10 cm column samples provide crucial information concerning the presence of both domestic and wild species in the diet at SD. These same contexts provided important data concerning the presence and use of small vertebrates at SD. Field recovery methods at SD included the use of 3mm mesh wet screens and the retention of all screen residues for subsequent sorting into respective artifact and ecofact classes. As noted in previous publications and presentations few small fish remains and species were represented in identified samples. Sorting the heavy fractions of the column samples resulted in the recovery of small vertebrate remains in relatively large numbers and clarifies the dietary role of small fish such as anchovies and sardines at SD.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)   •
• SAA 2025: Individual Abstracts

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 54073