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Classic Maya Shell Belt
03-20-2009, 08:48 PM,
#1
Classic Maya Shell Belt
Hi, all -

Is there a way to determine the species of shell (Oliva? Olivella?) from this photo? This was likely a dance belt during the Classic Maya period, from the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.

Thanks in advance!

James

<img src="http://i40.tinypic.com/1zoudqt.jpg" alt="http://i40.tinypic.com/1zoudqt.jpg" style="border:0" />
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03-21-2009, 11:17 AM,
#2
Classic Maya Shell Belt
Hi James,

Definitely Oliva, not Olivella.  The image is a bit small on my monitor screen but I would guess Oliva spicata, assuming they are from the west coast.  If there is any chance they might be Caribbean then they could be Oliva reticularis but I think O. spicata is more likely.  The apparently darker shells peeking out from underneath might be Oliva polpasta, but I can't see them well enough to say anything more definite than that.  <span class="petit">--Last edited by Paul Monfils on 2009-03-21 17:05:48 --</span>
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03-21-2009, 05:54 PM,
#3
Classic Maya Shell Belt
Yucatan is on the Caribbean side so they would be O. reticularis.
Dave
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