Description
Abstract:Edible insects are not only considered to be the future of sustainable protein sourcing but are already regularly consumed by about a third of the global population, among them many Hunter-Gatherer societies. Despite this well-known fact insects and, to a degree, other invertebrates, are customarily ignored in archaeological considerations of prehistoric diet and subsistence.
This ignorance is a result of Western emetophobic bias and the scarcity and, due to their size and frailty, often challenging preservation of insect fossils. Furthermore, even if they are preserved, insect remains are usually not collected during archaeological excavations. The consequential lack of inclusion of a complete faunal clade in most dietary and socio-cultural interpretative models contradicts a holistic approach to our understanding of past subsistence strategies and has the potential to lead to flawed interpretations of dietary proxies.
Therefore, this paper aims at providing a brief assessment of insectivorous practices in current Hunter-Gatherer societies and then compare it with the visibility of edible insects in archaeological research. Subsequently, it will consider indicators for nutritional significant insectivory in past populations and propose measures to further the inclusion of invertebrates into palaeodietary reconstructions.
| Period | 28 Jun 2022 |
|---|---|
| Event title | CHAGS13 |
| Event type | Conference |
| Location | Dublin, IrelandShow on map |
| Degree of Recognition | International |