| The range of pinctada maxima may provide a number of possible sources.
How a pinctada maxima shell gets to France must be quite a a story though I think the trading of seashells must go back further than we can imagine. Another thread describes shells that bore marks of human hands in the making of holes, were found in inland Afriica that dated back 95,000 years, more or less.
The study of shells under a microscope can tell what kind of tools made the carving by the character of the marks left on the shell by the tool. Josh gave some tantalizing clues, but I wasn't sure if it was carved in France. I hope we will learn.
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Caitlin  potamilus purpuratus American Pearl Mussel Where can I get a pearl from this mussel? |