What was the purpose of these ancient cowrie shell artifacts? – Archaeology Studio 161

This video concentrates on what we can learn about the unique cowrie shell artifacts from the oldest cultural layers of the Mariana Islands, dated around 1500 through 1100 BC.

*** Relevant references:
Carson, Mike T., 2017. “Rediscovering Heritage through Artefacts, Sites, and Landscapes: Translating a 3500-year Record at Ritidian, Guam. Access Archaeology.” Archaeopress, Oxford. Free PDF download: https://www.archaeopress.com/Archaeop...

Carson, Mike T., 2017. Cultural spaces inside and outside caves: A study in Guam, western Micronesia. “Antiquity” 91: 421–441. Free online aces and PDF download: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journa...

Carson, Mike T., 2017. Inhabiting remote tropical seashores at 1500 – 1100 B.C.: Water, practicalities, and rituals I the Mariana Islands. “Journal of Field Archaeology” 42: 269–282. Publisher’s website: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/1...

*** Credit for the “reliquary in the form of a crocodile” = collected from Porapora, Angoram, East Sepik region of New Guinea, middle 20th Century, curated at Musee de Quay Branly

*** Mike T. Carson studies archaeology and ancient landscapes of the Asia-Pacific region. His most popular books have included “Archaeology of Pacific Oceania: Inhabiting a Sea of Islands” (Second Edition, printed in 2024) and “Palaeolandscapes in Archaeology: Lessons for the Past and Future” (edited volume, 2022).

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