Abalone Pendant from West Texas

Early jewelry depicts the glowing beauty of nature

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Early jewelry depicts luminescent beauty in nature
Early jewelry depicts luminescent beauty in nature

Prehistoric humans used a variety of surrounding resources to clothe themselves, but they also made jewelry out of objects found in the open. This pendant is made of abalone, an edible sea snail that varies in sizes from medium to large and is native to the west coast of North America. The interior surface of the shell is bright and iridescent, and the colors change when the shell is viewed from different angles. Holes have been made in the top of the shell so that it could be worn as a pendant. How did a West Coast shell find its way to Texas? It was most likely acquired from middlemen in New Mexico or Arizona as a trade item. 

See this and other artifacts on the Interactive Texas Map

Abalone Pendant from West Texas Artifact from El Paso County
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