Abstract

Molluscs from the Neolithic shell middens (Sugari, Pudjeong, Tongsamdong, Sangnodaedo, Sandeung, Yondaedo, Songdo and Kupyongri) in the southern coast, Korea, consisted of marine, fresh-water and land molluscs. Among these, intertidal species were exploited most abundantly as food resources, indicating a high dependence of intertidal shellfish collection activities. Especially oysters were the most abundant in these sites except Tongsamdong where mussels were predominant, indicating oysters were the most important food resources. Land snails from the sites consisted of woodland and open land species. Woodland species were more abundant than openland species, suggesting that there was a woodland environmint around the sites. Marine and land mollusc species from the sites are common in these rigions today, indicating no large-scale emvironmental changes have occurred since these middens formation period.