h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Just a couple of points. A subsistance economy is one where pretty much everybody is producing the food upon which they subsist, although this does not rule out redistribution/exchange.
A subsistance food is one that is therefore present all of the time, not one turned to when other foods become unavailable as in times of famine.

Although, it is worth comparing how many oysters you would have to eat to get the same nutritional benefits of the average cow (which is more conveniantly packaged in the shape of a cow).

Otherwise good artical.

You may like to add that oyster, crab, limpets, periwinkles, dogwhelk and lobster were found in the shell middens excavated on Oransey. These date from mesolithic period, around the 4th millennium B.C.

In the buildings of Skara Brae, the a Neolithic settlement on Orkney, shell fish were stored alive inside the buildings in rectangular pits lined with large stone slabs. (I cann't remember which species were present but I'll look it up),

Oysters were also transported large distance in the medieval period in barrels. I'm not sure what the Romans used, undoubtedly something similar. I'll see what I can dig out.

Andy B! If you are still around you may be able to help me! I'm having a spot of bother finding any info about oysters in archaeological tomes! Well specifically the medieval and Post-med industry in East-Anglia, Suffolk to be precise. I'm not after any of that Roman tosh!

Anway, is there any chance you know of any decent references that might be able to point me in the right direction? Any would be most appreciated.

Cain