Artikelen

DE EXPLOITATIE VAN EEN INFRASTRUCTUREEL TRAAG ECOSYSTEEM: HET VERZAMELEN VAN WIJNGAARDSLAKKEN

Auteurs

  • Sytze Bottema
  • Fionna Bottema
  • Nicolien Bottema-Mac Gillavry

Samenvatting

With sedentism in prehistoric times, more intensive exploitation of a restricled area could have led to the gathering of edible snails such as Roman snails (Helix poma­tia L.). There is no proof that Late Pleisto­cene or Mesolithic hunter/gatherer tribes did not collect such snails, nor much proof to the contrary, as preservation requires accumulation of debris. Given the estimated numbers of inhabitants and duration of habitation at the sites, the number of snail shells in excavations of settlements turns out to be insignificant. Modern Roman snails can be collected economically a few times per year only. This depends on the weather pattern and the sexual activity of the adult snails. Juvenile and subadult snails are difficult to find. The exploita­tion of a Roman snail population is possi­ble only under certain conditions, and has no economic value because of its low yield. Besides, the calorific value of the snail is very low.

Gepubliceerd

1991-12-13

Nummer

Sectie

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