Pêcher, préparer et consommer les ressources animales de l’estran et au-delà

Abstract

Since prehistoric times, coastal populations exploited animal resources from the seashore. They are found alive or dead in the tide marks; or at low tide in the emerged areas. Thus, the archaeozoologist is confronted with a variety of possible acquisition techniques that he can sometimes describe through a detailed analysis of the parts of the animal skeletal discovered in an archaeological context. For each period of our history, the archaeozoologist adapts his expertise according to the socio-economic systems of human populations. While some exploitations of these animal resources remain local, others are linked to exportation as soon as they are acquired. Whether they are shellfish or fish, some of these resources will leave the shoreline after they have been processed. These high value-added products play an important role in the coastal economic fabric. Thus, thanks to these activities, the coastline becomes sometimes an export platform. Other materials of animal origin, such as empty shells or marine mammal bones collected from sometimes distant beaches, will be used to make decor or means of expression to allow some people to display their status. Thus, the possible thematic developments in archaeology, based on the animal resources provided by the seashore, are varied. However, they remain very dependent on the requirements and techniques of excavation.

Keywords

• animal resources
• seashore
• food
• raw material
• transformation