Here's recent acquisition of mine. I picked these up in Illinois country. They supposedly came from an old artifact collector....but dealers' stories are sometimes less than factual.I showed them to one of the archaeologists at Cahokia Mounds but he said he's seen nothing similar in connection to the Mound culture.
I assume these are old, perhaps very old. Or, perhaps they were made around 1900 and worn for 50 years by someone in New Guinea??? S.L.
Has anyone seen anything like these before? Any help in identifying these would be greatly appreciated. Please leave any information in the comment section at the end of this post.
Photos supplied by Steven Lalioff.
The Beads look like a Type...I used to buy in the early 70's...African I believe. KR
ReplyDeleteDear Kim,
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for this lead...I hadn't even considered an African origin. Now, who has an idea as to where in Africa?...it's a big place!
Thanks! SML
Dear Kim,
ReplyDeleteWere the African beads you mentioned shell or perhaps hippo teeth? Someone suggested that these are about the same size and shape as hippo teeth which are/were used in Africa as beads and sold here in the 70's.
SML
Yes....that sounds right. However, I think I found that they were only called Hippo Teeth Beads. The beads were shell.I'll have to look and see if I still have any around. KR
ReplyDeleteI'd be interested in seeing how they compair. Did the shell "hippo teeth" beads have those shell ridges? I'm guessing mine are from a clam...a really big clam. Thanks for your help!
ReplyDeleteSML
Yes...they had the ridges ..just like the ones pictured. I will see if I still have any around. KR
ReplyDeleteI'll bring these to the CLA in Lexington. SL
ReplyDelete