Marlene,

I am currently writing my dissertation that addresses this precise
issue. I have been working in Ecuador for 10 years (mostly just summers)
on this problem. It seems that the story has become much larger than the
actual archaeological evidence. It seems that the 'warm' waters are more
variable than the writings out there make it seem and, as both Marcus
and Julio point out, both S. princeps and calcifer are available in
northern Peru (though perhaps not in the same quantity). Spondylus is
often discussed as a link between Ecuador and Peru, but if Spondylus
could be found on the Peruvian coast, can we say that the Spondylus
recovered in Peru indicates links with Ecuador?

If you are interested, I can send you some readings on the topic.A great
place to start is anything written by Izumi Shimada, who studies the
Sican (Lambayeque) culture of Northern Peru. The burials that they
excavated contained some amazing shell artifacts along with whole
shells. Perhaps we should include them in the Famous Shell collectors list.

Ben

Marlene Fritzler wrote:
> I am not a concher; however, I've done a bit of reading over the past
> year...specific to Spondylus princeps.  My understanding, at least with
> regard to past cultures, is that they were only found in the warmer waters
> off the coast of Ecuador.  Archaeological research indicates that shells
> unearthed in burial chambers of northern Peru (dating between 900 and 1100
> AD) came from Ecuador.
> Marlene
>
> Conchlers,
>
>> Does anyone have a lot of experience collecting shell in Peru?
>> Specifically, I am interested in Spondylus calcifer and princeps. Have
>> people found these in Peru? Keen (Seashells of Tropical West America-
>> 1971) says they are not supposed to be there- Baja California to Ecuador.
>>
>> A specific question for Marcus Coltro- one of the Spondylus princeps
>> images on your website (Femorale.com) says that it is from Peru. Can you
>> give me more information than that? Any information would be
>> appreciated, even if it is as general as north or south Peru.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Ben
>>
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