Food & more: Marine Mollusks Exploitation during the Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic in Cantabrian Spain and in the Ebro Valley

Abstract

This paper focuses on the exploitation of marine mollusks within a cultural and an ecological context, from the archaeological excavations in the prehistoric sites in the Cantabrian Region (North of Spain) and along the Ebro Valley. This research analyzes different species, on one hand used as ornaments or tools and, on the other hand as food, during the Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic. These mollusks are examined for taxonomic diversity among cultural phases. Our research focuses on two main issues: the first one refers to which species of mollusks were selected and transformed into personal ornaments and the second to which ones were collected for their dietary interest.