An experimental study of turtle shell rattle production and the implications for archaeofaunal assemblages

Abstract

Turtle shell rattles are percussion instruments used by Indigenous peoples of the Americas in ceremonial contexts to keep rhythm. Archaeological investigations in the southeastern United States produced several complete and partial Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina) shell rattles from mortuary contexts dating from the Archaic (ca. 8000–1000 BC) through Mississippian periods (ca. AD 800–1500). Fragmentary turtle remains, some identified as Eastern box turtle, are frequently recovered from non-mortuary contexts. Traditionally, these fragmentary remains are attributed to food waste. Given the archaeological and ethnographic evidence for turtle shell rattles, we need to consider how fragmentary remains might fit into the chaîne opératoire of rattle production. This paper presents the results of an experimental study designed to identify one such chaîne opératoire of rattle production. During this experiment, the data on taphonomic processes such as manufacturing marks, use-wear, and breakage patterns, were recorded. We then tested the taphonomic findings from the experimental study and an object trait list we compiled from known rattle specimens and documentary sources with archaeological turtle remains recovered from non-mortuary contexts at two Mississippian period (ca. AD 1000–1450) sites in Middle Tennessee. Historic indigenous groups are known to have, and still do into the present-day, make and use turtle shell rattles in the region. Ultimately, we determined that “food refuse” should not be the default interpretation of fragmentary box turtle remains, and instead the taphonomic history and contextual associations must be considered in full. The experimental process of crafting turtle shell rattles enhances our understanding of an ancient musical instrument and the success rate of identifying musical artifacts and distinguishing between other modified turtle remains in the archaeological record. This study expands our knowledge of ancient music in North America and prompts re-analysis of curated turtle remains in museums for rattle-related modifications.

Creation to Rhythm: An Ethnographic and Archaeological Survey of Turtle Shell Rattles and Spirituality in the United States

“…Outside hooves produce a different sound to interior rattle objects. Likewise, in the East, a variety of rattle objects were used including pebbles, freshwater drum ( Aplodinotus grunniens ) molariform teeth, seeds, and beads (Fradkin 1990:424; Gillreath-Brown and Peres 2017, 2018). Overall, rattle objects consisted of readily available flora and fauna.…”

“…Turtle shell rattles were used across the East (Figure 5), as far north as Turner, Maine (Bourque 1995), but continue beyond the United States into Ontario, Canada (Pearce 2005). Ancient turtle shell rattles have been recovered from at least 13 eastern states (Figure 5A; Supplementary Table 1; Brown 2011; Gillreath-Brown and Peres 2018; Mounier 2003:111; Winters 1969:76). Here, I show that at least 18 Indigenous Peoples (including Susquehannock [or Andaste] from the archaeological record in Supplementary Table 1) in the ethnographic literature used turtle shell rattles (Figure 5B; Supplementary Table 2).…”

“…The archaeological record indicates that, across eastern North America, turtle shell rattles were associated with ancient rituals and ceremonies, as evidenced by the archaeological contexts of rattles (Supplementary Table 1; Pearce 2005; see also Brown 2011; Gillreath-Brown and Peres 2017, 2018). Additionally, turtle shell rattles recovered from burial contexts were presumably buried with the person that had used the rattles (e.g., Swanton 1928a:396).…”

“…In North America, in particular, Indigenous Peoples have used turtle shell rattles since the Archaic period (ca. 8000–1000 BC) as expressive percussive instruments (Gillreath-Brown and Peres 2018) and have been found in Canada and as far south as the Yucatan peninsula (Pearce 2005; Roberts 1936:21). Turtle shells are particularly important because, beyond their functional utility, they are tied to worldviews about sacredness.…”

Relaciones entre tortugas marinas y seres humanos en la costa de Atacama: Dos ejemplos arqueológicos

“…Tortugas marinas y seres humanos han establecido relaciones estrechas en la cohabitación de espacios litorales a lo largo de la historia y en diferentes partes del mundo (Ayres 1979, Allen 2007, Frazier et al 2007, Woodrom 2010. Por lo general, las relaciones no se limitan a compartir un medio de vida, sino que es habitual que los seres humanos capturen tortugas para su alimentación (Gourou 1964, Frazier 1980, Woodrom 2003) y el aprovechamiento de huesos y caparazones como insumos en la manufactura de artefactos de diversa índole, tanto para fines prácticos, cotidianos y mundanos como para rituales simbólicos y ornamentales , Brown 2011, Frazier & Ishihara-Brito 2012, Gillreath-Brown & Peres 2017, 2018. Estos usos han sido documentados en sitios arqueológicos de distinta antigüedad en la península arábiga, en torno al océano Índico, en el Caribe centroamericano, el Yucatán, Norteamérica, la Polinesia y Sudamérica, demostrando su amplitud geográfica y profundidad histórica (Frazier 2005).…”