Clams and Snails

Freshwater Clams

Freshwater clams, known as mussels, of many species were harvested from Texas rivers and streams by native peoples. Eaten raw or steamed, mussels provided protein in bite-sized morsels. The shells were used in a variety of ways, as well. The larger species were used as tools or as containers, such as palettes for paint. The beautiful opalescent interior of the shells inspired many native artisans to transform them into jewelry, such as pendants or disc beads. The shell typically was cut into the desired shape, ground on edges, and drilled to create a hole for a cord. Pendants frequently were decorated with patterns of incised lines.

Archeologists have found shells of these bivalves at varying frequencies at sites throughout the Plateaus and Canyonlands. At the Wilson-Leonard site, native peoples apparently ate mussels throughout the 13,000-year history of the site, although never in large quantities. It appears that in some areas, such as the Mustang Branch site in Hays County, Late Prehistoric peoples gathered clams in small quantities from nearby Onion Creek to supplement their diet.

During early Historic times, Spanish officials hoped to organize a freshwater pearl industry on the northwestern Edwards Plateau after Jumano Indian leaders informed them of the vast riches in the Río de las Perlas (River of Pearls)—the Concho—and other rivers. Although the operation was never initiated, the Concho, meaning shell, still is the namesake for the pearly mussels.

Snails

Land snails, particularly those of the genus Rabdotus, have been found in enormous quantities in archeological sites. Whether these creatures were eaten by native peoples or crawled in to feast on camp garbage has been debated for many years. Increasingly, however, archeologists who carefully study the evidence argue that snails were collected for food. At the Mustang Branch site in Hays County, researchers found that snails recovered in large concentrations from a Late Prehistoric (Austin interval) cooking hearth were predominately mature adults—the size that would be collected for food use—rather than a mixed population of varied ages, such as might crawl into the campsite naturally. Native peoples could easily have collected snails from the wooded areas along Onion Creek.

Shells of the Tampico pearly mussel, a mollusk species found in the Concho and other rivers of Texas. This particular mussel produces a lustrous purplish-pink pearl. Photo courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Mussel shells recovered from an archeological site. Native peoples ate the mussel and used the shells for scoops or containers, such as paint palettes, or for making personal adornments, such as pendants.

Large land snails, particularly those of the genus Rabdotus were eaten by prehistoric people, judging from evidence in many archeological sites.