PRIMITIVE MONEY.
Small collection of "money cowries", Monetaria moneta,
and "gold ring cowries", M. annulus
, together with false cowries, Trivia arctica
(aka the “northern cowrie”) and T. monacha
(aka the “European cowrie” or “spotted cowrie”). Monetaria moneta
and M. annulus
were once used as currency in parts of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Oceania, and were introduced to Native Americans during and after the fur trade by European settlers as a cheaper substitute for elk ivory, for dowry and as ornaments. Trivia arctica
and T. monacha
have been found in necklaces and ornaments excavated from Mesolithic burials dating back to 5000-7000 BCE.
NB: these are not ancient specimens, they are modern beach-collected examples.
