12
Biology of Sea Turtles, Volume II
marine turtles were commonly used for food by some aboriginal peoples of southern
Florida, although it is not clear whether the hawksbill (E. imbricata) was commonly
eaten; bone fragments of hawksbills from three Calusa sites in southwest Florida
showed no evidence of burning or cut marks (Schaffer and Ashley, in press).
In addition to providing a food source, parts of marine turtles were evidently
used for a variety of purposes in the southeast. Marine turtle shells have been found
in funerary situations in various places in Florida, notably in Calusa and Tequesta
sites. At Miami Circle, a Tequesta site, an entire marine turtle carapace was found
aligned east to west, as was the custom for human burials (Schaffer and Thunen, in
press, and citations therein). Net gauges were made from peripheral and other bones
of marine turtles, and game and divining pieces were also made from marine turtle
bones. There is also a report of “hollow shaving-blades” made from the mandible
of a marine turtle (Cushing, 1897: 378–379).
Cultural artifacts made of tortoiseshell 4 have been found at Mound C in
northern Georgia, a site of the Etowah culture. Of particular note is what appears
to be an effigy of a crested bird, evidently used as a hairpin or other form of head
ornament (Figure 1.1), found in a funerary context. The style closely resembles
4 In contemporary times the term “tortoiseshell” refers to the keratinous, or epidermal, scutes of the
hawksbill sea turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata; tortoiseshell is used as a raw material for various crafts.
There is, however, evidence in ancient Classical Greek texts that the keratinous scutes of land tortoises
(family Testundinidae) were also used in certain crafts (see Casson, 1989; 102, 168; and discussion below).
FIGURE 1.1 Tortoiseshell pin from burial no. 109, Mound C, Bartow County, Georgia, USA;
overall length is 24 cm; shaft is 18 cm long; greatest width is 1.1 cm (see Larson, 1993:
179–181; photo courtesy of L. Larson).
1123_C01.fm Page 12 Friday, November 15, 2002 11:13 AM
Biology of Sea Turtles, Volume II
marine turtles were commonly used for food by some aboriginal peoples of southern
Florida, although it is not clear whether the hawksbill (E. imbricata) was commonly
eaten; bone fragments of hawksbills from three Calusa sites in southwest Florida
showed no evidence of burning or cut marks (Schaffer and Ashley, in press).
In addition to providing a food source, parts of marine turtles were evidently
used for a variety of purposes in the southeast. Marine turtle shells have been found
in funerary situations in various places in Florida, notably in Calusa and Tequesta
sites. At Miami Circle, a Tequesta site, an entire marine turtle carapace was found
aligned east to west, as was the custom for human burials (Schaffer and Thunen, in
press, and citations therein). Net gauges were made from peripheral and other bones
of marine turtles, and game and divining pieces were also made from marine turtle
bones. There is also a report of “hollow shaving-blades” made from the mandible
of a marine turtle (Cushing, 1897: 378–379).
Cultural artifacts made of tortoiseshell 4 have been found at Mound C in
northern Georgia, a site of the Etowah culture. Of particular note is what appears
to be an effigy of a crested bird, evidently used as a hairpin or other form of head
ornament (Figure 1.1), found in a funerary context. The style closely resembles
4 In contemporary times the term “tortoiseshell” refers to the keratinous, or epidermal, scutes of the
hawksbill sea turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata; tortoiseshell is used as a raw material for various crafts.
There is, however, evidence in ancient Classical Greek texts that the keratinous scutes of land tortoises
(family Testundinidae) were also used in certain crafts (see Casson, 1989; 102, 168; and discussion below).
FIGURE 1.1 Tortoiseshell pin from burial no. 109, Mound C, Bartow County, Georgia, USA;
overall length is 24 cm; shaft is 18 cm long; greatest width is 1.1 cm (see Larson, 1993:
179–181; photo courtesy of L. Larson).
1123_C01.fm Page 12 Friday, November 15, 2002 11:13 AM