Identifying Turtle Shell Rattles in the Archaeological Record of the Southeastern United States
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6144586 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Andrew Gillreath-Brown (0000-0002-2272-5542, Washington State University), Tanya M Peres (0000-0002-7623-4693, Florida State University) |
| Year | 2017 |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication date | 2017-12-21 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Ethnobiology Letters (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2159-8126 • E-ISSN: 2159-8126 |
| Publisher | Society of Ethnobiology (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.14237/ebl.8.1.2017.979 |
| OpenAlex | W2780494226 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 8 |
| References cited | 5 |
The construction of rattles from turtle (Testudines) shells is an important consideration when distinguishing between food and non-food uses of archaeological turtle remains. However, the identification of turtle shell rattles in prehistoric contexts can be quite challenging. Equifinality is a major problem for being able to distinguish rattles from food refuse, particularly when a carapace is not burnt or modified. In addition, diversity, abundance, and distribution of Chelonian taxa varies throughout the southeastern United States, creating differential access for indigenous groups. Thus, multiple lines of evidence are needed from archaeological, ethnographic, and ethnohistoric records to successfully argue for the production and use of turtle shell rattles in the prehistoric southeastern United States. In this article, we present examples of turtle shell rattles in the southeastern United States to highlight their function and use by indigenous groups, the construction process, and several common characteristics, or an object trait list, that can aid in the identification of fragmentary turtle shell rattle remains. Proper identification of turtle remains is important for interpreting faunal remains and may be of interest to indigenous groups claiming cultural items under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA
Archaeological record · Archaeology · Biology · Carapace · Ethnology · Fauna · Genealogy · Geography · Indigenous · Prehistory · Turtle (robot · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · History · Wildlife Ecology and Conservation · Ecology
Zooarchaeological and ancient DNA identification of a non-local gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Ethnobiology through Song
Creation to Rhythm
Relaciones entre tortugas marinas y seres humanos en la costa de Atacama
European Pond Turtle (Emys orbicularis) remains in Iron Age contexts of the Spanish Northem Iberian Peninsula
Air and sound
Ethnobiology and Degrowth
Archaeology and Biogeography of the Western Pond Turtle (Actinemys marmorata) in the Puget Sound Region
| Unique citing works | 8 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2018 - 2025 (8) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 8 |