Hello!

First, I confess that I'm not a Conchologist!

I found your Listserv when doing a search on shells and have been
lurking for about a week or so.  It's always fascinating to see how the
Internet can bring together groups of people with similar interests from
all over the world.

I'm working a project to develop a global bead database, described at:
http://www.members.home.com/judvan  We are a group of bead researchers
(including archaeologists), small bead museums and bead collectors.

As I'm sure you are aware, shells of all types have been used (either
whole or in part) for beadmaking for thousands of years.

I will now truly reveal my ignorance:  Has any Conchologist focused
their study on shells used as beads or in beadmaking??  Or are there
references that discuss the types of shells used in this way?

Websites that might have this type of information, would be greatly
appreciated.  For example, Worldwide Specimen Shells website is very
informative:  http://users.erols.com/worldwide/

As this is 'off topic,' if you could respond to me privately?

Thanking you in advance,
Deborah Zinn