Native American, Southeastern United States, Florida, Marco Island, Calusa/Glades culture, ca. 500 CE to 1750 CE. An interesting collection of 10 shells and 2 stone tools from a coastal Native American tribe. The 7 welk shells have drilled circular holes on one side for suspension or hafting. The edge of the longest shell has been shaped and sharpened to create a cutting tool. Welk shells may have been mounted on handles to serve as cutting or scraping tools. The small clam shell with the perforation was probably used as a net weight. The piece of stone may have once had a hole through its center in order to serve as an anchor or weight. The Florida coast was conducive to fishing with rich estuaries, bays, and marshes. It is likely that 90% of the indigenous people's diets consisted of fish and shellfish. Tools, jewelry, beads, and even mounds, were created from the leftover shells. Size of frame: 13.24" L x 1.5" W x 13.25" H (33.6 cm x 3.8 cm x 33.7 cm) largest shell: 6.5" L x 2.5" W (16.5 cm x 6.4 cm)
Provenance: private Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA collection; ex-Charles (Charlie) Meyer collection, noted collector and famed illustrator for Greg Perino, famed authenticator and writer
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#163465
Condition
Chips and losses to shells as shown. Light mineral and earthen encrustations. Mounted on a burlap cloth within a wooden frame.