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mussel shell tool replicas

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swamp monkey:
In Missouri it is permissible to collect some mussel shells if you mind the limits.  I needed some mussel shell tools for a program I do with kids on resource use.  It is a compare and contrast thing demonstrating that we and Native Americans both have to live off resources.  The natives directly harvested and processed their items is the main real difference. 

Below is an shell adze I recently finished.  In the other pic is a woodland/Mississippian era hoe (simple and easy to make) a plant cutting tool, a spoon and a necklace. 

Shell is harder to work with than bone but the results are worth it. 

swamp monkey:
yeah I have been on a shell kick of late.  I am beginning to make disks for a shell necklace.  Lots of work involved here.  I can see why Manhattan was sold for a hand full of beads.  Those things are valuable if crafted by hand!

The one pic shows a bead with the hole nearly complete. 

I will post the full necklace when I get it done.

Silver John:
I like your twined grass matt you displayed your shell work on.
Very well done.   ;D

swamp monkey:
Thank you.  Bullrush

swamp monkey:
I have been outta the PA loop for a while with scouts and other teenager stuff.  Managed to finish this necklace.  I use it in programs.  It gives me a platform to talk about mussel conservation and the industrious efforts of Native American artisans.  The shell pendant is a marine whelk.  It is the wrong species of whelk.  the Mound builders used Lightning whelk.  I had a knobbed whelk to use.  Just being up front about it.  The major difference is the direction of the spiral is opposite.  beyond that they work about the same. 

This necklace weighs a whopping 2 lbs. 

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