22 



MoLLUSCA IN THE MaYA LoWLANDS 



Area pacifica Sowerby 

 Illustration: Keen, 1958, fig. 37. 

 Modern distribution: Pacific. 

 Archaeological occurrence: 



UAXACTUN: 2 unworked, one Chicanel, one 



Tzakol (K, p. 61). 



Area zebra Swainson [=^ A. oecidentalis Philippi] 



Illustration: Plate i^,b,bb. 



Modern distribution: Common on all coasts, from 

 Belize, B.H., to Isla Carmen, Camp. Also on off- 

 shore atolls. 



Archaeological occurrence: 



DZIBILCHALTUN: 2 unworked in Formative 

 deposits, 2 (pairs) in cache box of Late Early 

 period. 



ISLA CANCUN MIDDEN: 6 unworked. For- 

 mative. 



MA YAP AN ( ?), I unworked, probably Decadent 

 period (P, p. 387, fig. 46^, listed as Area sp.? in 

 text, is almost certainly this species.) 

 TIKAL: 56 unworked (M, p. 66, archaeological 

 association not noted). Some of these, from 2 

 probably Late Classic caches (Coe and Broman, 



1958, p. 44)- 



UAXACTUN: i unworked, apparently Forma- 

 tive (RR, p. 199, fig. 129; K, p. 61; both listed as 

 "Area noae Linne," a Mediterranean species). 

 PIEDRAS NEGRAS: 3 unworked, in Late Clas- 

 sic caches, one coated with cinnabar on inside 

 (C, p. 55, fig. 52,^). 



Comment: The Ricketsons illustrated a specimen 

 of A. zebra to show the deep scratchings on the 

 ligamental area, which do look much like incised 

 design. They quote Clench as thinking these "were 

 probably the result of boring sponges and not of 

 human industry." Actually, they are the normal 

 ligamental grooves of this species. They aroused our 

 curiosity and speculation when we first found them 

 in the field. 



Anadara grandis (Broderip and Sowerby) 



Illustration: Keen, 1958, fig. 56. 



Modern distribution: Pacific. 



Archaeological occurrence: 



COPAN: I unworked, in cache of Stela 7, 

 Late Classic (Longyear, 1952, p. 53, as "Area 

 grandes"). 



Anadara notabilis (Roding) 



Illustration: Plate T^,e,ec. 



Modern distribution: Found on all three coasts of 

 the peninsula, from Turneffe Islands, B.H., to 

 Isla Aguada, Camp. Also on offshore atolls. 



Archaeological occurrence: 



DZIBILCHALTUN: 3 with broken, not drilled, 

 hole below umbo, possibly for suspension. Forma- 

 tive. 



ISLA CANCUN MIDDEN: 5 unworked, For- 

 mative. 



Anadara transversa (Say) 



Illustration: Plate 'i.J,,d,dd. 



Modern distribution: North and west coasts only, 



Minas de Oro, Yuc, to Isla Aguada, Camp. Cayo 



Areas. 

 Archaeological occurrence: 



DZIBILCHALTUN: 5 with irregular broken 

 hole below umbo, probably for suspension. For- 

 mative; 4 unworked, one of Decadent period, 

 others not datable. 



MAYAPAN: i unworked, probably Decadent 

 period (P, p. 387, fig. 64,/, listed as "Area sp.," 

 but clearly from photo it is this species). 

 TIKAL: 28 unworked, i pierced for suspension, 

 not dated (M, p. 66). 



Lunarea ovalis (Bruguiere) 



Illustration: Plate '^b,SSiSS'- 



Modern distribution: Collected only at Isla Carmen 

 and nearby Zacatal, Camp. These would seem to 

 be the southernmost limits of a western Gulf 

 Coast distribution, as they are not found farther 

 north on the peninsula or on other coasts. 



Archaeological occurrence: 



BARTON RAMIE: i unworked. Classic (W, 



p. 526). 



TIKAL: 8 unworked, not dated (M-MS). 



Comment: The Barton Ramie specimen, whose 

 identity I re-checked, would be the only shell at the 

 site imported from considerable distance if the above 

 modern distribution is complete. However, the shell 

 may exist as a rarity which we failed to collect on 

 the east coast. 



Noetia ponderosa (Say) 

 Illustration: Plate i^,e,ee. 



