People, mussels, and country: investigating human-mussel-environment relationships during the Late Quaternary on Ngintait and Latji Latji Country, south-east Australia

Abstract

Freshwater mussel shells are commonly recorded in Aboriginal archaeological sites in the Central Murray River Basin (CMRB), on Ngintait, Latji Latji, and First People of the Millewa Mallee Country. Middens containing freshwater mussel shell are found in great number along the banks of the Millewa (Murray River) and these shells have been used to determine that CMRB has been inhabited for at least 29,000 years. Yet, so far, it has been difficult to ascertain the cultural and economic significance of this resource to the region’s inhabitants.

This research aims to gain a more holistic understanding of human-mussel-environment relationships in the CMRB through the incorporation of evidence from a variety of knowledge systems and different techniques applied to two shell middens in the region: Knowledge (TEK) gained through collaboration and interviews with the Ngintait, Latji Latji, and First People of the Millewa Mallee community is combined with several Western scientific techniques. The application of sclerochronology unlocks the high-resolution climate record stored within the freshwater mussel shell itself, allowing for the seasonal climate at the time that the mussels were collected to be determined. These estimations of time-of-year of collection can provide insight into resource habits and movement of Ngintait and Latji Latji peoples across Country. Nutritional analysis of modern specimens collected throughout the year can also help us to understand whether season of collection may be linked to changes in the nutritional value of the mussels themselves. Radiocarbon dating allows for the narratives unearthed to be placed in a larger chronological context. A more holistic understanding of human-mussel-environment relationships will allow us to best interpret the cultural and economic importance of freshwater mussels in the CMRB and understand how this relationship may have changed through time. © The Authors