A concise review of lobster utilization by worldwide human populations from pre-history to the modern era
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Spanier, E. (Ehud); Lavalli, K.L. (Kri L.); Goldstein, J.S. (Jason S.); Groeneveld, J.C. (Johan C.); Jordaan, G.L. (Gareth L.); Jones, C.M. (Clive M.); Phillips, B.F. (Bruce F.); Bianchini, M.L. (Marco L.); Kibler, R.D. (Rebecca D.); Díaz, D. (David); Mallol, S. (Sandra); Goñi, R. (Raquel); van-Der-Meeren, G.I. (Gro I.); Agnalt, A.L. (Ann Lisbeth); Behringer, D (Donald); Keegan, W.F. (William F.); Jeffs, A. (Andrew)Editor/s
Finley, C. (Carmel)Date
2015-05-07Type
articleKeywords
AfricaAmerica
ancient era
Australia
Europe
Fisheries
human utilization
lobster
Mediterranean
Middle ages
Modern era
New Zealand
Prehistory
zoo-archeology
Abstract
Lobsters are important resources throughout the world’s oceans, providing food security, employment, and a trading commodity. Whereas marine
biologists generally focus on modern impacts of fisheries, here we explore the deep history of lobster exploitation by prehistorical humans and
ancient civilizations, through the first half of the 20th century. Evidence of lobster use comprises midden remains, artwork, artefacts, writings
about lobsters, and written sources describing the fishing practices of indigenous peoples. Evidence from archaeological dig sites is potentially
biased because lobster shells are relatively thin and easily degraded in most midden soils; in some cases, they may have been used as fertilizer
for crops instead of being dumped in middens. Lobsters were a valuable food and economic resource for early coastal peoples, and ancient
Greek and Roman Mediterranean civilizations amassed considerable knowledge of their biology and fisheries. Before European contact, ...