spondylus

Tiny figures in copper and gold, llamas shaped from spondylus shell and delicately woven sandals — all wrapped in offering bundles and surrounded by clay bowls and wooden tools.

Juanita 2010

When the Incas ruled the Ecuadorian highlands, this area was occupied by the Mantena tribe, and was the centre of a trading network that stretched north to Mexico, using spondylus shells, which were worth more than gold, as currency.

Isla de la Plata - Ecuador's other Galapagos Sarah Gilbert 2010

Nearby were 35 little statues, made of gold, silver and spondylus (sea) shells; bundles of ornate alpaca textiles, and even sandals.

The Children Of The Ice 2008

Included in the caches were ceramic vessels, spondylus shells, and jade figurines.

Royal Maya Tomb Found 2000

Their principal markets for spondylus were the Andean high cultures, where the shell was a profoundly sacred and necessary religious commodity.

Traders of the Ecuadorian Littoral 1997

The traders may have needed to augment their most lucrative stock, spondylus shells.

Traders of the Ecuadorian Littoral 1997

Several small female figurines in gold, silver, tumbaga (a gold and copper alloy), and spondylus shell were found near the mummy.

Andean Icewoman 1996

The 2. 5-inch spondylus shell and 6. 25-inch gold figurines were clad in miniature multicolored garments and headdresses, while a 3. 5-inch silver figurine wore all white.

Andean Icewoman 1996

Seven more artifacts -- a six-inch-tall silver female statuette wrapped in textiles; one silver and one gold male statuette; a female figurine and a llama carved out of spondylus shell; and one gold and one silver llama -- were discovered in a cache on a nearby platform.

Inka Child Sacrifice 1996

All 3-dimensional artists are invited to sell and showcase their art of spondylus jewelry, or spondylus shell.

guampdn.com - Local News 2008