Oxygen isotope ratios in modern African gastropod shells: A data base for paleoclimatology

Isotopic Determination of Growth and Longevity in Fossil and Modern Invertebrates

The isotopic composition of fossil invertebrates contains a wealth of information about the physical and chemical environments of the ancient past. The exploitation of this biogeochemical archive by paleontologists began about 50 years ago with the realization that the ratios of oxygen isotopes in the shells and skeletons of marine organisms offered the potential to accurately reconstruct paleoenvironmental conditions, particularly temperature (Urey, 1947; Urey et al., 1951). With the introduction of the oxygen isotope paleotemperature methodology (Epstein et al., 1951, 1953; Epstein and Lowenstam, 1953), the field of “isotope paleontology” was born (Wefer and Berger, 1991).

Mid-Neolithic exploitation of mollusks in the Guanzhong Basin of Northwestern China: preliminary results

Mollusk remains are abundant in archaeological sites in the Guanzhong Basin of Northwestern China, providing good opportunities for investigations into the use of mollusks by prehistoric humans. Here we report on freshwater gastropod and bivalve mollusks covering the time interval from about 5600 to 4500 cal. yrs BP from sites of Mid-Late Neolithic age. They are identified as Cipangopaludina chinensis and Unio douglasiae, both of which are currently food for humans. The shells are well preserved and have no signs of abrasion. They are all freshwater gastropods and bivalves found in pits without water-reworked deposits and have modern representatives which can be observed in rivers, reservoirs, and paddy fields in the studied region. Mollusk shells were frequently recovered in association with mammal bones, lithic artifacts, and pottery. These lines of evidence indicate that the mollusks are the remains of prehistoric meals. The mollusk shells were likely discarded into the pits by prehistoric humans after the flesh was eaten. However, these mollusk remains may not have been staple food since they are not found in large quantities. Mollusk shell tools and ornaments are also observed. Shell tools include shell knives, shell reaphooks and arrowheads, whereas shell ornaments are composed of pendants and loops. All the shell tools and ornaments are made of bivalve mollusks and do not occur in large numbers. The finding of these freshwater mollusk remains supports the view that the middle Holocene climate in the Guanzhong Basin may have been warm and moist, which was probably favorable to freshwater mollusks growing and developing in the region.