Different methods, different results: Analysis of a gastropod assemblage from site 41HM61, Hamilton County, Texas

Archaeological snail assemblages may be greatly biased by recovery methods. In addition, analysis of such assemblages in the United States traditionally has relied upon specifying habitat preferences for particular species, even though most species may be found across a range of habitats. We present the results of an analysis of gastropod shells from a multi-component site in Hamilton County, Texas. Our study indicates that hand-sorting the light fraction of flotation samples is necessary to obtain an adequate assemblage. In addition, analysis of the data via mathematical ordination produces results that contrast with more traditional methods where paleoenvironmental modeling is concerned.