About
The Horseshoe crab has been around for 450 million years, which means they watched the rise and fall of millions of other species and survived ice ages. These prehistoric bottom feeders reside in the shallow waters off the Atlantic coast in North America and across several coasts in Southeast Asia.
Distinguished for their large, hard, horseshoe-shaped shells which give them their name, these docile creatures have zero interest in humans. On the other hand, humans have taken quite an interest in them.
Horseshoe crab blood is bright blue. It contains important immune cells that are exceptionally sensitive to toxic bacteria. When those cells meet invading bacteria, they clot around it and protect the rest of the horseshoe crab’s body from toxins.
If you have ever had a vaccine, chances are that it was tested for safety using horseshoe crab blood.
Location
The proposed site from this project is in Middle Bay, Maine. This location is special because it is home to protected isolated crab species that are specific to the Mid-Atlantic climate.
The site is located on a bluff that is along the path of the horseshoe crab spawning migration path.
Located just a mile away from the protected species, visitors will be able to see the crab-filled beach at a distance without having disturbed them.
Importance
We owe our lives to these crabs and the premise of this project is to develop a meditative, experiential space to honor the prehistoric creature and its miracle blood that lies deep within.
