Archaeomalacological Data and Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction at the Jupiter Inlet I Site (8PB34a), Southeast Florida

The Jupiter Inlet I site is situated between the Atlantic coast and the Loxahatchee
River in southeast Florida. Although excavations were previously conducted, faunal
remains were not systematically collected until recently. Molluscan remains recovered in
2010 are examined to reconstruct past ecological habitats, identify which water bodies
were used for extracting resources, and document changes in molluscan species over
time. Based upon identifications, only brackish and marine species are represented,
indicating that the Loxahatchee River was brackish rather than freshwater during the time
of occupation and that the site inhabitants were collecting mollusks from both the lagoon
and coastal waters.