Coastal Shell Middens and Agricultural Origins in Atlantic Europe

Nicky Milner

I have been interested in coastal archaeology, shell middens, the Mesolithic, and the transition to agriculture for the last 10 years. During my PhD, I pioneered a method for ascertaining the seasonality and age of the European oyster, Ostrea edulis, which I applied to case-studies from Danish shellmiddens.

Since then, I have worked on shellmiddens across Europe (Denmark, Sweden, Scotland, Ireland, Spain and Portugal) and have visited sites in Patagonia. I am currently involved in developing methodologies for investigating midden accumulation processes and dating midden material, seasonality studies, palaeoclimatic change, palaeodietary analysis and over-exploitation/intensification of shell gathering.

I also study themes such as: the use of seascapes; the use of coastal resources through time and the nature and extent of dietary change at the transition to the Neolithic; seasonality, settlement and mobility; consumption practices such as feasting; and the deposition of human remains within shell middens.

As well as working on shell middens I have recently co-directed fieldwork (with Clive Waddington and Geoff Bailey) on the unusually early coastal Mesolithic structure at Howick, on the Northumberland coastline, funded by English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund. I also work with Tim Schadla-Hall on Mesolithic sites in the Vale of Pickering.

Relevant references

Mesolithic studies:

Bailey, G.N. & Milner, N. 2002. Coastal hunters and gatherers and social evolution: marginal or central? Before Farming: the Archaeology of Old World Hunter-Gatherers 3–4 (1), 1–15.
Milner, N. & Woodman, P.C. (eds.) (forthcoming). The Mesolithic: New Directions and Alternative Narratives. Oxford: Oxbow.
Milner, N. & Woodman, P.C. (eds.) (forthcoming) Looking into the Canon’s mouth. In N. Milner & P.C. Woodman (eds.) The Mesolithic: New Directions and Alternative Narratives. Oxford: Oxbow.
Milner, N. (forthcoming) Subsistence. In C. Conneller & G. Warren (eds.) Reinterpreting the Mesolithic of Britain and Ireland.
Milner, N. (in press) Can seasonality studies be used to identify sedentism in the past? In D. Bailey, V. Cummings & A. Whittle (eds.) (Un)settling the Neolithic. Oxford: Oxbow.
Milner, N. & Woodman, P.C. (in press) Filling in the gaps. Unite et diversite des processus de neolithisation sur la facade Atlantique de L'Europe (7e - 3e millenaire av.J.C.). Bulletin de la Societe Prehistorique Française 101 (4).
Bailey, G.N. & Milner, N. (in press) The faunal remains at Howick. In C. Waddington (ed.) Howick: a Coastal Mesolithic site in Northumberland. Oxford: Oxbow.
Milner, N & Waddington, C. 2001. A Mesolithic site at Howick. Archaeology in Northumberland 2000-2001, 6.
Waddington, C., Bailey, G.N., Bayliss, A., Boomer, I., Milner, N., Pedersen, K., Shiel R. & Stevenson, T. 2003. A Mesolithic settlement site at Howick, Northumberland: a preliminary report. Archaeologia Aeliana 32: 1–12.
Waddington, C, Bailey, G.N., Boomer, I., Milner, N. & Shiel, R. 2003. A Mesolithic coastal site at Howick, Northumberland. Antiquity 77 (295) [Available online at http://antiquity.ac.uk]

Methodology:

Milner, N., & Surge, D. (forthcoming) Sclerochronology and geochemical analyses on Ostrea edulis: a comparison of methods for determining seasonality on European shell midden sites.
Milner, N., Welsh, J. & Barrett, J. (forthcoming) Marine resource intensification in Viking Age Europe: the mollusc evidence from Quoygrew, Orkney.
Surge, D. and Milner, N. 2003. Oyster shells as history books of environmental change and harvesting strategies of ancient peoples. Shellfish News, no. 16, 5-7. [Available online at http://www.cefas.co.uk/publications/shellfishnews/shellnews16.pdf].
Milner, N. 2002. Incremental growth of the European Oyster, Ostrea edulis: seasonality information from Danish kitchenmiddens. Oxford: Archaeopress, British Archaeological Reports International Series 1057. ISBN 0-84171-437-2.
Milner, N. 2001. At the cutting edge: using thin sectioning to determine season of death of the European Oyster, Ostrea edulis. Journal of Archaeological Science 28, 861-875.

Midden studies:

Bailey, G.N. & Milner, N. (in press) The marine molluscs from the Norsminde shell midden. In Søren H. Andersen (ed.) Stone Age Settlement of the Norsminde Fjord, Jutland, Denmark.
Milner, N. (forthcoming) The seasonality of oyster gathering. In L. Zapata Peña (ed.) Excavations at Pico Ramos, a Chalcolithic cave site, Oxford: Archaeopress, British Archaeological Reports, International series.
Milner, N. (forthcoming) Mesolithic middens and marine molluscs: procurement and consumption of shellfish at the site of Sand. Scottish Archaeology Internet Publications.
Milner, N. (forthcoming) A study of the marine molluscs from the Scotland’s First Settlers test pit sites, Scottish Archaeology Internet Publications.
Milner, N. 2001. Seasonality studies and palaeoenvironmental analysis of oysters from the Danish kitchenmidden of Krabbesholm. University of Durham and University of Newcastle upon Tyne Archaeological Reports 1999/2000, 1-6.
Milner, N. and Woodman, P. (2002) Risk Assessment Report of the Shell Middens in the Lough Swilly Area. Report for DUCHAS
Milner, N. (2002) Assessment of Seasonality of Oysters, Ostrea edulis, from the Mesolithic site of Dammen, Sweden
Milner, N. (2002) Seasonality Analysis of Oysters from the Muge, Portugal
Milner, N. and Woodman, P. (2001) Preliminary report on excavations at Baylet, Co.Donegal C340 227. Report for DUCHAS

Palaeodiet and consumption

Milner, N., Craig, O.E., Bailey, G.N., Pedersen, K. & Andersen S.H. 2004. Something fishy in the Neolithic? A re-evaluation of stable isotope analysis of Mesolithic and Neolithic coastal populations. Antiquity 78: 9–22.
Milner, N. 2003. Pitfalls and problems in analysing and interpreting the seasonality of faunal remains. In N. Milner, D.Q. Fuller & M. Baxter (eds.) Contending with Bones. Cambridge: Archaeological Review from Cambridge 16:1, 50-65. ISSN 0261-4332.
Miracle, P.T & Milner, N. (eds.) 2002. Consuming Passions and Patterns of Consumption. Cambridge: McDonald Institute. ISBN 0-9519420-8-5.
Milner, N. & Fuller, D.Q. 2003. Contending with Animal Bones. In N. Milner, D.Q. Fuller & M. Baxter (eds.) Contending with Bones. Cambridge: Archaeological Review from Cambridge 16:1, 1-12. ISSN 0261-4332.
Milner, N., Fuller, D.Q. & Baxter, M. (eds.) 2003. Contending with Bones. Cambridge: Archaeological Review from Cambridge 16:1. ISSN 0261-4332.
Milner, N. 2002. Oysters, cockles and kitchenmiddens: changing consumption practices at the Mesolithic/Neolithic transition. In P.T. Miracle & N. Milner (eds.) Consuming Patterns and Patterns of Consumption. Cambridge: McDonald Institute, 89-96. ISBN 0-9519420-8-5.
Milner, N. & Miracle, P.T. 2002. Patterning data and consuming theory. In P.T. Miracle & N. Milner (eds.) Consuming Patterns & Patterns of Consumption. Cambridge: McDonald Institute, 1-6. ISBN 0-9519420-8-5.
Milner, N. (forthcoming) Months that have not the letter R: exploring seasonal consumption of oysters in the Mesolithic. In N. Milner & P.C. Woodman (eds.) The Mesolithic: New Directions and Alternative Narratives. Oxford: Oxbow.
Milner, N. (forthcoming) Consumption of crabs in the Mesolithic: side stepping the evidence? Scottish Archaeology Internet Publications.

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	Nicky Milner I have been interested in coastal archaeology, shell middens, the Mesolithic, and the transition to agriculture for the last 10 years. During my PhD, I pioneered a method for ascertaining the seasonality and age of the European oyster, Ostrea edulis, which I applied to case-studies from Danish shellmiddens. Since then, I have worked on shellmiddens across Europe (Denmark, Sweden, Scotland, Ireland, Spain and Portugal) and have visited sites in Patagonia. I am currently involved in developing methodologies for investigating midden accumulation processes and dating midden material, seasonality studies, palaeoclimatic change, palaeodietary analysis and over-exploitation/intensification of shell gathering. I also study themes such as: the use of seascapes; the use of coastal resources through time and the nature and extent of dietary change at the transition to the Neolithic; seasonality, settlement and mobility; consumption practices such as feasting; and the deposition of human remains within shell middens. As well as working on shell middens I have recently co-directed fieldwork (with Clive Waddington and Geoff Bailey) on the unusually early coastal Mesolithic structure at Howick, on the Northumberland coastline, funded by English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund. I also work with Tim Schadla-Hall on Mesolithic sites in the Vale of Pickering. Relevant references Mesolithic studies: Bailey, G.N. & Milner, N. 2002. Coastal hunters and gatherers and social evolution: marginal or central? Before Farming: the Archaeology of Old World Hunter-Gatherers 3–4 (1), 1–15. Milner, N. & Woodman, P.C. (eds.) (forthcoming). The Mesolithic: New Directions and Alternative Narratives. Oxford: Oxbow. Milner, N. & Woodman, P.C. (eds.) (forthcoming) Looking into the Canon’s mouth. In N. Milner & P.C. Woodman (eds.) The Mesolithic: New Directions and Alternative Narratives. Oxford: Oxbow. Milner, N. (forthcoming) Subsistence. In C. Conneller & G. Warren (eds.) Reinterpreting the Mesolithic of Britain and Ireland. Milner, N. (in press) Can seasonality studies be used to identify sedentism in the past? In D. Bailey, V. Cummings & A. Whittle (eds.) (Un)settling the Neolithic. Oxford: Oxbow. Milner, N. & Woodman, P.C. (in press) Filling in the gaps. Unite et diversite des processus de neolithisation sur la facade Atlantique de L'Europe (7e - 3e millenaire av.J.C.). Bulletin de la Societe Prehistorique Française 101 (4). Bailey, G.N. & Milner, N. (in press) The faunal remains at Howick. In C. Waddington (ed.) Howick: a Coastal Mesolithic site in Northumberland. Oxford: Oxbow. Milner, N & Waddington, C. 2001. A Mesolithic site at Howick. Archaeology in Northumberland 2000-2001, 6. Waddington, C., Bailey, G.N., Bayliss, A., Boomer, I., Milner, N., Pedersen, K., Shiel R. & Stevenson, T. 2003. A Mesolithic settlement site at Howick, Northumberland: a preliminary report. Archaeologia Aeliana 32: 1–12. Waddington, C, Bailey, G.N., Boomer, I., Milner, N. & Shiel, R. 2003. A Mesolithic coastal site at Howick, Northumberland. Antiquity 77 (295) [Available online at http://antiquity.ac.uk] Methodology: Milner, N., & Surge, D. (forthcoming) Sclerochronology and geochemical analyses on Ostrea edulis: a comparison of methods for determining seasonality on European shell midden sites. Milner, N., Welsh, J. & Barrett, J. (forthcoming) Marine resource intensification in Viking Age Europe: the mollusc evidence from Quoygrew, Orkney. Surge, D. and Milner, N. 2003. Oyster shells as history books of environmental change and harvesting strategies of ancient peoples. Shellfish News, no. 16, 5-7. [Available online at http://www.cefas.co.uk/publications/shellfishnews/shellnews16.pdf]. Milner, N. 2002. Incremental growth of the European Oyster, Ostrea edulis: seasonality information from Danish kitchenmiddens. Oxford: Archaeopress, British Archaeological Reports International Series 1057. ISBN 0-84171-437-2. Milner, N. 2001. At the cutting edge: using thin sectioning to determine season of death of the European Oyster, Ostrea edulis. Journal of Archaeological Science 28, 861-875. Midden studies: Bailey, G.N. & Milner, N. (in press) The marine molluscs from the Norsminde shell midden. In Søren H. Andersen (ed.) Stone Age Settlement of the Norsminde Fjord, Jutland, Denmark. Milner, N. (forthcoming) The seasonality of oyster gathering. In L. Zapata Peña (ed.) Excavations at Pico Ramos, a Chalcolithic cave site, Oxford: Archaeopress, British Archaeological Reports, International series. Milner, N. (forthcoming) Mesolithic middens and marine molluscs: procurement and consumption of shellfish at the site of Sand. Scottish Archaeology Internet Publications. Milner, N. (forthcoming) A study of the marine molluscs from the Scotland’s First Settlers test pit sites, Scottish Archaeology Internet Publications. Milner, N. 2001. Seasonality studies and palaeoenvironmental analysis of oysters from the Danish kitchenmidden of Krabbesholm. University of Durham and University of Newcastle upon Tyne Archaeological Reports 1999/2000, 1-6. Milner, N. and Woodman, P. (2002) Risk Assessment Report of the Shell Middens in the Lough Swilly Area. Report for DUCHAS Milner, N. (2002) Assessment of Seasonality of Oysters, Ostrea edulis, from the Mesolithic site of Dammen, Sweden Milner, N. (2002) Seasonality Analysis of Oysters from the Muge, Portugal Milner, N. and Woodman, P. (2001) Preliminary report on excavations at Baylet, Co.Donegal C340 227. Report for DUCHAS Palaeodiet and consumption Milner, N., Craig, O.E., Bailey, G.N., Pedersen, K. & Andersen S.H. 2004. Something fishy in the Neolithic? A re-evaluation of stable isotope analysis of Mesolithic and Neolithic coastal populations. Antiquity 78: 9–22. Milner, N. 2003. Pitfalls and problems in analysing and interpreting the seasonality of faunal remains. In N. Milner, D.Q. Fuller & M. Baxter (eds.) Contending with Bones. Cambridge: Archaeological Review from Cambridge 16:1, 50-65. ISSN 0261-4332. Miracle, P.T & Milner, N. (eds.) 2002. Consuming Passions and Patterns of Consumption. Cambridge: McDonald Institute. ISBN 0-9519420-8-5. Milner, N. & Fuller, D.Q. 2003. Contending with Animal Bones. In N. Milner, D.Q. Fuller & M. Baxter (eds.) Contending with Bones. Cambridge: Archaeological Review from Cambridge 16:1, 1-12. ISSN 0261-4332. Milner, N., Fuller, D.Q. & Baxter, M. (eds.) 2003. Contending with Bones. Cambridge: Archaeological Review from Cambridge 16:1. ISSN 0261-4332. Milner, N. 2002. Oysters, cockles and kitchenmiddens: changing consumption practices at the Mesolithic/Neolithic transition. In P.T. Miracle & N. Milner (eds.) Consuming Patterns and Patterns of Consumption. Cambridge: McDonald Institute, 89-96. ISBN 0-9519420-8-5. Milner, N. & Miracle, P.T. 2002. Patterning data and consuming theory. In P.T. Miracle & N. Milner (eds.) Consuming Patterns & Patterns of Consumption. Cambridge: McDonald Institute, 1-6. ISBN 0-9519420-8-5. Milner, N. (forthcoming) Months that have not the letter R: exploring seasonal consumption of oysters in the Mesolithic. In N. Milner & P.C. Woodman (eds.) The Mesolithic: New Directions and Alternative Narratives. Oxford: Oxbow. Milner, N. (forthcoming) Consumption of crabs in the Mesolithic: side stepping the evidence? Scottish Archaeology Internet Publications. <Back