Hendri Asyhari Fajrian Kaharudin

Holocene Crab Consumption at Watinglo, Papua New Guinea

Introduction

Holocene crab consumption at watinglo, papua new guinea. Explore Holocene crab consumption at Watinglo, Papua New Guinea. This archaeological study discusses issues in identifying fragmented crab remains, comparing findings from this Indo-Pacific site to others.

Abstract

Malacostraca are commonly found in coastal archaeological sites in the Indo-Pacific; both swimming and terrestrial crabs. This archaeological evidence as well as ethnographic studies indicate that they formed an important component of the human diet in the past as they still do in many regions today. However, they often go unidentified and largely unanalysed in archaeological research due to the highly fragmentary state of the remains and the associated difficulties posed for identification and quantification. Here we discuss these issues and provide an example of crab remains recovered from a coastal archaeological site in Papua New Guinea, Watinglo shelter, with an occupation record spanning from the Terminal Pleistocene to historic times. We also briefly compare these finding to crab remains from archaeological sites of similar antiquity in Indonesia and the Philippines.

Review

This paper tackles a critical, yet often under-recognized, aspect of human subsistence in coastal archaeological contexts across the Indo-Pacific: the consumption of crabs. The authors effectively highlight the significant dietary role of both swimming and terrestrial crabs in past human populations, a pattern that persists in many regions today. Crucially, they identify a pervasive methodological challenge: the highly fragmentary nature of crab remains, which frequently impedes accurate identification and robust quantification, thus leading to their under-analysis and omission from broader dietary reconstructions in archaeological research. To address these issues, the article provides a practical illustration using crab remains recovered from the Watinglo shelter in Papua New Guinea. This site is particularly valuable given its extensive occupation record, spanning from the Terminal Pleistocene to historic times, allowing for an examination of Holocene crab consumption patterns within a deep chronological framework. The authors' discussion of the difficulties encountered and the methods employed in analyzing these challenging faunal assemblages is a significant contribution, offering concrete insights for other researchers grappling with similar data. The inclusion of a brief comparative analysis with findings from archaeological sites of similar antiquity in Indonesia and the Philippines further enriches the regional perspective. Overall, this paper represents an important and timely contribution to zooarchaeological studies, particularly those focused on past human-environment interactions and subsistence strategies in coastal Indo-Pacific environments. By explicitly acknowledging the methodological hurdles associated with crab remains and demonstrating a tangible approach through the Watinglo case study, it not only reinforces the dietary importance of these crustaceans but also provides a valuable framework for improving their systematic analysis. This work encourages a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of coastal foraging economies, setting a precedent for future research to more fully integrate these often-overlooked faunal components.

Full Text

Comments

You need to be logged in to post a comment.