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
This review establishes oyster shells as high-resolution, multiproxy archives for reconstructing environmental variability and life history traits. It highlights recent methodological innovations, challenges in growth pattern interpretation, and the significance of integrating geochemical proxies across disciplines including palaeoclimatology, archaeology, and aquaculture science.