Cave clue to 'first beachcombers'

[Squirrel Girl]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7049597.stm

The waste from shellfish dinners discarded in a South African cave is said to be the earliest evidence of humans living and thriving by the sea.

[Larry E. Matthews]

Mussells here in the Tennessee River Basin were an important part of the diet of American Indians. There are features referred to as "Shell Mounds" where they discarded the shells.

Thought you might be interested in that tidbit of information.

Larry E. Matthews
NSS #6792-F

[graveleye]

I didn;t think the freshwater mussels here were edible!!

[Larry E. Matthews]

Well, I'm not an expert.

But, I can't imagine why they wouldn't be. Especially if they were "cooked", such as in a chowder or stew.

They sure did take them out of the rivers in large numbers, to build up those "mounds".

Larry

[graveleye]

Man you learn something new every day.

I would like to see one of these shell mounds sometimes Larry - do you have pictures or show one to me sometimes?

[Phil Winkler]

Back in the early 70s I was canoeing with a young lass down the Roubidoux Creek in Missouri. We stopped at a sandy island and I noticed the bottom of the creek had lots of mussels on it. So, trying my best to impress her with my Mark Trail survival skills in the outdoors I opened one and let it slither down my throat.

Yeccchhhhh!!! I couldn't get the taste out for 20 hours or more.

So, edible? Yes. Raw? Not very good.....

[graveleye]

didn't do much for your libido I reckon!!