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Cowrie shells like these served a variety of purposes during the 1700s. The shells were used as personal adornments and also as currency, since they were more difficult to counterfeit than coins. In African-American culture, cowrie shells also served divination purposes, with the opposing sides of cut shells representing heads or tails.
INDE 105791 and INDE 2053
Archeologists uncovered these objects at the site of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia during an excavation from 2000 to 2003.
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Details
- Title: Cowrie Shells
- Original Source: Independence National Historical Park, National Park Service
- Rights: Courtesy of Independence National Historical Park Collection, Philadelphia, PA
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