Preliminary communication

Freshwater bivalve from the prehistoric layers at the site of Ilok – Dvor knezova Iločkih

Antonela Barbir orcid.org/0000-0003-3825-1596 ; Institute of Archaeology, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Finds of freshwater and terrestrial malacofauna at archaeological sites can provide valuable information on the paleoenvironment, nutrition and use of mollusks as raw materials for the manufacture of objects for various purposes. The paper presents the results of archeomalacological analysis of freshwater shellfish of the genus Unio found in prehistoric strata at the site Ilok – Dvor knezova Iločkih in eastern Croatia. The analysis included 35 shell fragments originating from ten stratigraphic units. According to morphology, the species Unio crassus, Unio pictorum and Unio tumidus were determined. One specimen has a perforation on the umbo, which may indicate the use of the object as a pendant. Taphonomic changes in shellfish indicate extraction of raw meat, while a modest set of findings suggests sporadic use.

Keywords

malacofauna; freshwater bivalve; Unio; diet; prehistory; eastern Croatia; Ilok

Hrčak ID:

269874

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/269874

Publication date:

31.12.2021.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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