Hohokam Bracelets Research
The Original Snowbirds
Marine
seashells have long been a prized commodity throughout the Southwest US and
northern Mexico
lands. In the ancient world, the trendsetters when it came to the designing and
creation of Seashell jewelry seem to be the Hohokam. They also traded shells, jewelry
and other shell ornaments with their ancient neighbors, the Mogollon and
Anasazi (also called Ancestral Puebloans).
It was
long thought that they only traded for shells and never traveled to the
seashore. Since 1972, archaeologists have been finding evidence that the
Hohokam actually made the long trek on foot to the seashore. Evidence is based
on the discovery and excavation of shell middens (or, shell kitchens) along the
shorelines around Puerto Peñasco.
Researchers
have made extensive reports about their discoveries. They found stone tools and
other signs of seashell manufacturing amidst other finds at the sites. Besides
the Hohokam, it is apparent that the Trincheras tribe of Sonora also made extensive use of these
shores as camping and fishing grounds and they too were adept at seashell
jewelry-making.
Seashell
bracelets were a common ornament that was created from the Glycermeris
gigantea shell (commonly called the Bittersweet clam). Stone tools were
used to make the bracelets. The shell was first rubbed on a gritty Stone until
a hole was worn through the center. Then a small Hammer Stone was used to break
out more of the center; then a Reaming tool (also stone) was used to grind the
opening and enlarge and smooth it. This slow process continued until just the
outer ring of the seashell remained.
Necklaces
were made by stringing whole shells or flat disc beads manufactured from
shells. The Olivella dama shell (or, Olive shell) was ground to make an
opening, and then it could be strung. Other jewelry included earrings and
pendants made of whole shells or shells carved into forms.
The
Hohokam also etched designs in seashells hundreds of years before this art form
was used in Europe! Most likely, they used a
week acetic acid (vinegar) made from the fermented juice of the Saguaro fruit
to etch shells. The pitch from a mesquite was first used to lay out a design on
the shell, as it would resist the etching acids. Then the shell was placed in
the vinegar-like fruit juice and the unprotected shell surface would be eaten
away. After, the pitch would be scraped away revealing a raised design.
Occasionally these designs were even painted.
At
least 49 shell midden sites have been discovered along about 80 kilometers of coastline
from Bahia Adair to Estero Maria. Most of these appear to be seasonal,
short-term camps for fishing, shell-fishing and sea-shell collection.
By
studying the remains of seashells at these sites scientists have determined
that the people visited in the fall and winter to harvest fish and shellfish.
However they left before the spring when it would soon warm up into the oppressive
heat of summer! So it seems, snowbirds – or winter visitors - are nothing new
to the area! For thousands of years people have been coming to Puerto Peñasco
to fish and collect seashells!
What Do we call a Sea Urchin's Mouth?
What is This?
