Original scientific paper

Chasing Snails From Coast to Inland and Back: Perforated Marine and Freshwater Snail Shells as an Indication of Regional Exchange Systems During the Mesolithic in Croatia

Darko Komšo orcid.org/0000-0001-9772-7481 ; Archaeological Museum of Istria, Pula, Croatia
Nikola Vukosavljević orcid.org/0000-0002-9369-2813 ; Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Ivor Karavanić orcid.org/0000-0003-1452-8394 ; Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Department of Anthropology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, USA
Preston Miracle ; Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England, UK

Abstract

Perforated shells figure prominently in discussions of exchange systems
and body ornamentation during the Mesolithic in Europe. In this
paper we discuss assemblages of perforated snail shells recovered from
recent excavations of Mesolithic sites in Croatia. Numerous finds
are found in several sites in Northern Adriatic and in Zala Cave
in Croatia’s inland region of Ogulin-Plaški intermountain valley.
Perforated marine and freshwater snail shells from both regions suggest
the existence of regional exchange systems during the Mesolithic
between coastal and inland areas.

Keywords

Mesolithic; perforated snail shells; body ornaments; exchange systems; Croatia

Hrčak ID:

249590

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/249590

Publication date:

21.12.2020.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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