A new student-led research project examining seasonal oyster harvesting by Gullah/Geechee communities on Ossabaw Island, Georgia, before and after Emancipation. Using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) on archaeological oyster shells, the study compares enslaved and post-Emancipation contexts. Preliminary results show consistent winter–spring harvesting across both periods, suggesting enduring ecological, health, and cultural constraints. The work highlights oysters’ role in Gullah/Geechee subsistence and demonstrates LIBS as a powerful method for reconstructing past harvesting practices
Our new study delivers the most extensive calibration to date of Patella caerulea (the Mediterranean limpet) as a recorder of sea surface temperatures (SSTs) across the Central and Eastern Mediterranean. The study combined laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for measuring Mg/Ca ratios with isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) to analyse oxygen isotope values (δ18O). By analysing 131 modern shells from 22 sites, we explored the relationship between magnesium-to-calcium (Mg/Ca) ratios and oxygen isotope values as palaeotemperature proxies.
We studied modern limpet shells using laser-based (LIBS) analysis in two labs to better understand how shell chemistry reflects past sea temperatures. By creating detailed elemental maps, we tested how different methods and lab setups affect results. We found that variation in shell data is mostly due to natural limpet growth patterns, not the measurement technique. This is important for improving the reliability of shell-based climate reconstructions in archaeology and palaeoenvironmental research.