Mussels in the Upper Midwest: An Archaeologist’s Perspective

Dr. James L. Theler, MVAC Senior Research Associate and Professor Emeritus, UWL Department of Archaeology & Anthropology, shares his wealth of knowledge on the fascinating biology of freshwater mussels and their dynamic relationship with people in the Upper Midwest, from Indigenous uses of mussels for food, tools, and clay temper to the historic pearl button industry and more recent threats from human activity.
Here's what the video covers, and some links for further information:
Timecodes
00:00
00:04 - Introduction
01:10 - Freshwater Mussel Biology
04:59 - Archaeology and Indigenous Uses of Mussels
07:40 - Identification
10:07 - Historic Industry and Human Impacts
15:11 - Restrictions on Collection Today
16:32 - Resources
Related MVAC webpages:
-Crowfoot Hooks for the Harvest of Freshwater Mussels: www.uwlax.edu/mvac/educators/...
-Faunal Analysis: www.uwlax.edu/mvac/process-of...
-Mussels: www.uwlax.edu/mvac/educators/...
-Oneota Ceramics (shell temper): www.uwlax.edu/mvac/educators/...
-Pearl Buttons: www.uwlax.edu/mvac/past-cultu...
-Shell - Worked: www.uwlax.edu/mvac/past-cultu...
-Shell Scoop: www.uwlax.edu/mvac/past-cultu...
Related MVAC videos:
-Bison Scapula Hoes by Dr. James Theler - MVAC Lab - Professor Emeritus James Theler talks about how Indigenous peoples made and used hoes from bison shoulder blades: • Bison Scapula Hoes by ...
-Bone Tools - Dr. Theler explains how Indigenous peoples in the La Crosse area worked the bones of different animals into tools, ornaments, and musical instruments: • Bone Tools
Regional freshwater mussel guides:
-Mayer, Christine A., and Kevin S. Cummings
1992 Field Guide to Freshwater Mussels of the Midwest. Manual 5. Illinois Natural History Survey, Champaign.
-Sietman, Bernard E.
2003 Field Guide to Freshwater Mussels of Minnesota. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul.
-Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
2003 Freshwater Mussels of the Upper Mississippi River. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison.
Journal paper on western Wisconsin freshwater mussel use by Woodland and Oneota peoples:
-Theler, James L., and Matthew G. Hill
2019 Late Holocene Shellfish Exploitation in the Upper Mississippi River Valley
Quaternary International 530-531:146-156. DOI:10.1016/j.quaint.2019.04.011. Available online at www.sciencedirect.com/science....
Best book on freshwater mussels:
-Haag, Wendell R.
2012 North American Freshwater Mussels: Natural History, Ecology, and Conservation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Image Credits
-Coker, Robert E.
1921 Bar and crowfoot outfit for taking mussels, consisting of john boat, two bars with crowfoot hooks, and the 'mule' (Lying on stern of boat). Freshwater and Marine Image Bank, University of Washington Libraries. Electronic document, digitalcollections.lib.washin..., accessed June 20, 2023. Originally published as Plate XXVII-1 in Fresh-water Mussels and Mussel Industries of the United States. Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Fisheries Vol. 36, 1917-1918. US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC.
-Ecosystems Mission Area, USGS, image by Teresa J. Newton
2016 Young Freshwater Mussels as seen Through a Microscope. Electronic document, www.usgs.gov/media/images/you..., accessed May 1, 2023.
-Environmental Health Program, USGS, image by Doug Hardesty
2013 Larval Mussels. Electronic document, www.usgs.gov/media/images/lar..., accessed May 1, 2023.
-Hagerty, Ryan, USFWS
2017 Plain Pocketbook Mussel Displaying Lure, Fish Mimic with Eye Spot. Electronic document, digitalmedia.fws.gov/digital/..., accessed May 1, 2023.
-Raver, Duane, USFWS
2016 Skipjack Herring, Fish, Alosa chrysochloris. Electronic document, www.public-domain-image.com/pu..., accessed June 27, 2023.

[@shirleyvowell9563]

Greetings from Texas! Truly awesome info and great presentation! They drain one of our nearby lakes every so often--to work on the dam I think. Mussel shells were everywhere..kind of sad actually. Your video is much appreciated. Thanks for sharing!

[@americanartifactsblog]

Great resources!

[@jenngwynn]

Very interesting, I learned a lot from this video! It is sad to know how many species have disappeared because of human intervention. I'm in KY, close to KY Lake, (Tennessee River), as well as the Ohio & Mississippi rivers. I'm 52, and recall there being a mussel-buying business up until fairly recent times. Happy there is much being done to conserve them now. Thanks for a great lesson!