Wen-Lung Wu and Wen-Cheng Chang

ISLANDS OF THE WORLD VIII – Changing Islands - Changing Worlds November 2, 2004 Kinmen, Taiwan

Institute of Zoology / Research Center for Biodiversity, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan

2-4-B-4

Institute of Zoology/Research Center for Biodiversity Academia Sinica, Taiwan

Study on “Human-Shell Relationships” in Indo-Pacific Area

What are we thinking?

Shell ? Human ?

Institute of Zoology/Research Center for Biodiversity Academia Sinica, Taiwan

The Motive <part1>

An interesting essay from Great “Science” Journal !

Institute of Zoology/Research Center for Biodiversity Academia Sinica, Taiwan

The Motive <essay>

Middle Stone Age Shell Beads from South Africa Christopher Henshilwood; Francesco d'Errico; Marian Vanhaeren; Karen van Niekerk;and Zenobia Jacobs

Institute of Zoology/Research Center for Biodiversity Academia Sinica, Taiwan

The Motive <part2>

Continuing discussions keep talking about this Topic

• Nature Science Update (04/16/2004) -- Ancient jewellery found in African cave

• New Scientist.com (04/16/2004) -- Ancient shell jewellery hints at language

• Scientific American (04/16/2004) -- Ancient Shells May Be Earliest Jewels

Institute of Zoology/Research Center for Biodiversity Academia Sinica, Taiwan

The Motive <part3 - Citation in Taiwan>

Institute of Zoology/Research Center for Biodiversity Academia Sinica, Taiwan

• Our exhibition hall collects many shell beads of aborigines of Taiwan, belonging to Atayal, Amis, Paiwan, and Bunun Tribe; most of these collections came from Atayal Tribe. The culture and history of shell beads of aborigines, including all collections in N.T.U., did not have any science descriptions or researches. ….(Chang, 1946)

• Nevertheless, shells had been hugely collected for food, ornaments, handcraft, even currency, completely went into human’s life, not only a snatch.. …..(Chang, 1958)

• “The shell industry of Taiwan at Prehistory” written by Zhao-mei Lian , Taiwan

• “The shell merchandise and shell currency – discussing purposes of sea shells at Shang-Zhou dynasty of China” written by Yung-Di Lee, Taiwan.

• About 3 to 4 hundred million years ago, the Cambrian, the mollusks were ready to occur on earth. Today, 120,000 species of mollusks are living with us. They are flourishing and multipurpose for human being to use. As foodstuff, shells are the main sources of protein. We can find the evidence from shell mounds all over the world…..(Wu,et al., 2003)

1. Biogeography and Austronesian

The Inferential View

Institute of Zoology/Research Center for Biodiversity Academia Sinica, Taiwan

<part 1>

** Map modified from “Distribution of the Austronesian Language Family and Major Subgroupings”, Research school of Pacific and Asian Studies, National Australian University.

Madagascar

Taiwan

New Zealand

Easter Island

Institute of Zoology/Research Center for Biodiversity Academia Sinica, Taiwan

The Inferential View

2. Biogeography and Shells

Institute of Zoology/Research Center for Biodiversity Academia Sinica, Taiwan

<part 2>

Wallace’s Zoogeographic Provinces

Distribution of Mollusks ( Dance, 1974 )

Institute of Zoology/Research Center for Biodiversity Academia Sinica, Taiwan

3. Shells and Austronesian

The Inferential View

Institute of Zoology/Research Center for Biodiversity Academia Sinica, Taiwan

<part3>

Demarcation of two groups of Austronesian is almost overlaps the Wallace’s line. This demarcation bases on the characteristics of language: one belongs to Eastern Austronesian or Oceanic group; another belongs to Western Austronesian or Hesperonesian group. The most important division is between Oceanic and the Western Malayo-Polynesian group, with the complicated languages of Wallacea sandwiched in between.

Wallace was particularly impressed by the sudden difference in bird families he encountered when he sailed some twenty miles east of the island of Bali and landed on Lombok. In his honor this dividing line, which extends northward between Borneo and Sulawesi, is still referred to today as Wallace's Line.

Institute of Zoology/Research Center for Biodiversity Academia Sinica, Taiwan

The Inference Result

Relationships between Austronesian and Shells

Institute of Zoology/Research Center for Biodiversity Academia Sinica, Taiwan

Austronesian Distribution ( Research school of Pacific and Asian Studies, National Australian University )

Wallace’s Zoogeographic Provinces

Distribution of Mollusks ( Dance, 1974 )

Institute of Zoology/Research Center for Biodiversity Academia Sinica, Taiwan

The Method• Shells as Food in Indo-Pacific Area

• Shells as Clothes in Indo-Pacific Area

• Shells as Living in Indo-Pacific Area

• Shells as Transportation in Indo-Pacific Area

• Shells as Education in Indo-Pacific Area

• Shells as Leisure in Indo-Pacific Area

Institute of Zoology/Research Center for Biodiversity Academia Sinica, Taiwan

http://shellmuseum.sinica.edu.tw English Version is Coming Soon ~

Institute of Zoology/Research Center for Biodiversity Academia Sinica, Taiwan

Institute of Zoology/Research Center for Biodiversity Academia Sinica, Taiwan

Six subjects of Shell & Humanity Database Part 1

• Food

• Wearing

• Architecture

Rice wrapped in Shell Shell for food in Taiwan Rabble for clam collect

Roast snail and Plate

Necklace Button Hand Ring

Stone Caving Shell temple Historic temple repair – using calcined shells, not cement

Institute of Zoology/Research Center for Biodiversity Academia Sinica, Taiwan

Six subjects of Shell & Humanity Database Part 2

• Transportation

• Religion, Custom, & Education

• Leisure Time

Bridge name with shell Commemorative coin The first nuclear submarine “Nautilus”

Woodcarving fan with inlay Shell books Instruments of Lamaism

Pearl doll Seal with shell pattern

Taiwan stamp withshell story

Handicraft

Institute of Zoology/Research Center for Biodiversity Academia Sinica, Taiwan

Thank You

Institute of Zoology/Research Center for Biodiversity Academia Sinica, Taiwan