( …from Man In The Northeast, Vol. 9, Spring 1975)

 

FURTHER COMMENT ON NOTCHED CLAM SHELL TOOLS

Abstract: A recent article by P.A. Brett describes a complex of shell tools which he purports to be previously unrecognized, and claims primacy in recognition of these objects. This is challenged, and the literature is cited in support of my earlier description of similar if not identical objects, and the suggestion of their occurrence in the coastal Northeast.

In a recent article, Brett (1974) offered a description of certain shell tools fashioned from valves of the pelecypod M. mercenaria or "Northern Quahog." These were noted at six sites in the Maurice River drainage of southern New Jersey. He describes and illustrates notched perimeters on these valves and posits a classificatory schema of tool types. He also reports certain experiments designed to test the ability of unbiased observers to sort shells and discriminate wear and purposeful modification.

Brett's report contains much useful information and he is to be commended, I feel, for his attempts to treat his data rigorously and fairly. I must demur, however, from his claims to have isolated an unrecognized phenomenon, and quote in support from an earlier report (Powell1958:19) on work at the Indian Field site in Cos Cob, Connecticut:
 

“... The outstanding find was a number of clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) shells all bearing notching along their outer perimeters.... Some valves had notches at either end of the shell. These possibly suggest some form of hafting for the shell. Other valves had one or several notches anywhere along the outer rim. The range in width for these notches was quite large: from not more than 1/4 inch wide up to 2 inches wide and over. All were rather symmetrical and showed definite wear or rubbing marks at the notch bases on the outer, curved backs of the valves. Quite a few of these shells were recovered both in this layer and in one similar on a nearby offshore island. Probably about 20 or so were reclaimed in all: three of which are illustrated (Fig. [11). It is known that gulls and other sea birds will drop clams on rock-strewn beaches to break the valves and get the animal inside.... The symmetry and smoothness of the notching on the shells, however, eliminates any possibility that gulls might have been responsible. This was confirmed by a check with an ornithologist [E.T. Gilliard, personal communication]. Consequently, a problematic artifact, to the best of my knowledge never before reported for the coastal Northeast, seems now to be established. [J. Ford (personal communication)] has suggested their use in "peeling poles." Smith [1950:128] mentions "worn shell fragments" in his trait table for East River sites, but lists only four specimens as the total number recovered from nearly all components of the Aspect taken together. This is at marked variance with the quantity in which I noted them at the IF site. It is my opinion that more than one type of tool is present here. The valves with the opposed notching (either end) usually have small notches and I have previously suggested hafting for these. Sometimes several small notches close together suggest multiple sinew dressers or shaft smoothers. The large-arc notches may be "pole-peelers" or shaft smoothers of some sort.”

Figure 1: Notched clam shells from Feature 18, Indian Field site,

 Cos Cob, Connecticut.   Cf. Brett 1974:Pl. XII.

In a letter, dated 2/24/59, the late Frank Glynn wrote"...Butler is very excited about your notched clam shells. She noted same from a couple of excavations in SE Conn. in the Nineteen-thirties, the reports on which maybe you can get out of her" (personal communication). The reference is to the late Eva Butler; I never followed up Glynn's suggestion, but it seems clear that notched clam shells are nothing new in Northeastern archeology.

Bernard W. Powell

North East Archeological Researchers

 

References Cited

Brett, Perry A. 1974. The Maurice River Shell Tool Complex. Man in the Northeast 7:110-122.

Powell, B.W. 1958. Preliminary Report on a Southwestern Connecticut Site. Bulletin of the Archeological Society of Connecticut28:12-29.

Smith, Carlyle Shreeve 1950. The Archaeology of Coastal New York. Anthropological Papers of the American Museum of Natural History 43(2). New York.