Collection
Clam Shell
Roebuck (1701)
A clam shell was recovered by the WA Museum's exploration team from Roebuck's wreck site off Ascension Island in March 2001. It was identified by natural scientist Shirley Slack-Smith as a type found only in the Indo-Pacific region.
William Dampier collected shells on the Australian coast and at Cockle and Pidgeon Islands at the north-west end of New Guinea (Irian Jaya). At Pidgeon Island he wrote:
'In the afternoon my men returned, brought 22 Pidgeons, and many Cockles, some very large, some small: They also brought one empty shell, that weigh'd 258 Pound' (c. 129kg).
A Voyage to New Holland, Williams Edition
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