When the spiraled white shell of a precious wentletrap was sold at auction in 1750, the highest bidder was none other than the Holy Roman Emperor, who shelled out no less than 4,000 guilders for the ...

Shells are the true gems of the ocean and a beachcomber’s most prized find. Although, commonly used today to adorn necklaces, earrings and bracelets, or to decorate the home, shells and their ...

Cowrie shells have a long, layered history that stretches far beyond their recent resurgence in home decor. Long before they appeared on coffee tables, wall hangings, or sculptural objects, cowries ...

Money cowrie’s were “highly valued by many African cultures” and even used as currency, according to the Carlos Museum at Emory University. City of Boston Archaeology Program photo Finding a Pacific ...

Ah, youth. Standing before the looking glass, we all feel a pang to see the form we once possessed reflected back, now distorted though some strange morph of age and elements. Have you been to a class ...

Finding a Pacific Ocean seashell at an 18th century Boston historic site sounds mysterious, but thrilled historians believe they just found the personal property of an enslaved person. Called a money ...