The First Person to Eat a Crab: Archeology and History of Eating Crabs

“The First Person to Eat a Crab”: Archeology and History of Eating Crabs
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“The First Person to Eat a Crab”: Archeology and History of Eating Crabs
“The first person to eat a crab" is a popular Chinese slang to describe a brave, innovative person who is a pioneer, not afraid to lose. It is said to originate from the scary looks of crabs, and no one in their right mind would want to eat them. Crabs form a luxurious delicacy in the modern world. It is a preferred meal for its taste and nutritional value. However, crustaceans, including crabs, look like giant insects and are sometimes frustrating to eat, even in today's dining setting. But, despite this unpleasant appearance, crabs have been a delicacy for years in many parts of the world. Archaeological evidence shows that crabs were eaten much more in ancient civilizations than people think. In this paper, I will explore the history and archeological evidence of crab-eating in different regions and the reason why people continue to include crabs in their food options, not as a last resort to hunger. Crabs are crustaceans and exist in different species. Tsung et al. (2014: 1173) state that true crabs are “the most diverse groups of crustaceans with approximately 7,000 described species in 98 families.”
Archaeologists have discovered that early humans served and consumed crabs as a delicacy. There is evidence of shells and bone deposits left by early civilization. For instance, Nabia et al. (2023: 1) reveal that there is evidence of leftover shellfish, especially crabs, in a Neanderthal cave near Portugal. Also, many traditional Chinese poems and legends about eating delicious crabs are recorded. Further, remains of the blue crab were found in the Native American site Chesapeake Bay, and this evidence was used for tourist attraction in this region (Rick et al. 2014: 42). Different regions started consuming crabs and other seafood at different timing depending on the tools and the need to try new items. It is believed that individuals living near the coastal beaches adapted to the environment and were curious to exploit immediately available resources. This is how the crab, as a delicacy, was discovered.
Further, individuals used different tools that made catching and consuming seafood affordable (Dupont and Gruet 2022). Although the evidence is from very different cultures and timelines, it is worth noting that these people had more reasons to eat crabs other than simply being adventurous or too hungry. This paper will explore why eating crabs was essential to the lives of ancient civilizations. Specifically, the paper will concentrate on ancient China, Gruta da Figueira Brava, and the Chesapeake Bay evidence to demonstrate the use of crab as a delicacy in ancient civilization.
Ancient China
According to archaeological evidence, study shows the history of China and crab-eating stretches back to the Neolithic age. The crab-eating culture has been recorded as early as the Zhou Dynasty ( 771-256 BCE). Crabs were mentioned in the Book of Songs, a collection of ancient Chinese poetry. Furthermore, since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it is said that literati appreciated chrysanthemums and the flavor o...