Olivella shell beads and Haliotis (abalone) ornaments from the Brazil Mound
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Olivella shell beads and Haliotis (abalone) ornaments from the Brazil Mound |
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Shell Beads and Ornaments
Many of the ornamental or religious objects from the Brazil Site were found with the human burials. The most numerous of these were beads and decorated pieces of abalone or olivella shell, which had to be brought inland from the coast. Because marine shells had to be transported long distances to reach California's Central Valley, they must have been quite valuable to the people living there. In fact, some Native California groups are known to have used shell beads as money. These valuable items also were used as grave offerings, as was the case at CA-SAC-43.
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