Just now by coincidence, I've been sorting out some of my recent finds into
my cabinets and noticed that I had labeled "Natica melanostoma" what is
probably more widely called "Polinices melanostoma" (from the Pacific). I
don't know about the history of usage of the generic names. However, it
seems to me more likely that "Natica beads" reflects older usage and
probably refers to Polinices. Are these beads fragments strung together?
What do these look like?
--David
Durham, NC

>Thanks for the info.  I am curious about the use of Natica for beads.  I am
>unaware of this genera being used by Native Americans in the northeast.  Is
>it possible that these could be of African or Caribbean origin?  Does anyone
>know of Natica shells used by the indigenous cultures of these areas? Again,
>thanks for any insight.
>
>Jason R. Mancini, Staff Archaeologist
>Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center
>110 Pequot Trail, Mashantucket, CT 06339-3180
>tel. 860.396.6802  fax  860.396.6914
>[log in to unmask]
>
>
>        -----Original Message-----
>        From:   Monfils, Paul [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
>        Sent:   Monday, December 20, 1999 3:22 PM
>        To:     [log in to unmask]
>        Subject:        Re: Natica beads
>
>        The genus Natica is in the family Naticidae, commonly known as moon
>snails.
>        This genus is not native to Connecticut, except for a couple of
>small deep
>        water species which would not be likely sources of bead material.
>Two
>        possibilities come to mind.  The beads you mentioned may have been
>made from
>        Polinices duplicatus, which is not a true Natica, but is a member of
>the
>        moon snail family, and is common in shallow water in Connecticut.
>Or, the
>        beads or shells may have come from farther down the coast, around
>Florida,
>        where true Natica shells are available.
>        Paul M.
>        >