Pre-Columbian, southern Mexico to Guatemala, Maya, Late Classic Period, ca. 550 to 900 CE. This is a stunning shell that is hand-drilled to wear as a pendant or clothing ornament, with a perforation on the narrow end. The shell is from a snail in the Oliva genus - their shells are elongated like olives - and the surface is naturally smooth and shiny, perfect for carving and these shells were traded with inland sites such as Seibal (Ceibal)! This species is perhaps a lettered olive snail (Oliva sayana) or tent olive (Oliva porphyria), the shell has natural brown zigzag patterning that looks like writing, mountains, or waves! In fact, it is believed that the Maya used the olive shell as a glyph symbol, and they may have worn the shells as tinklers on their clothing - this shell has a surprisingly musical quality when tapped. The Maya artisan that drilled the shell likely valued the natural beauty of the surface. The shell's spire has been removed - the wide opening at one end has been smoothed and polished. Size: 2.125" L x 1" W (5.4 cm x 2.5 cm)

Provenance: private Arcadia, California, USA collection, acquired prior to 2000

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#162074

Minor chips to interior spiral of shell but the exterior shell is intact with amazing natural zigzag patterns. Drilled perforation is intact.