MOLLUSCA IN THE MaYA LoWLANDS 



Astraea tecta americana (Gmelin) 



Illustration: Plate i,^. 



Modern distribution: Common on east and north 

 coasts, from Turneffe Islands, B.H., to Sisal, Yuc, 

 and on offshore atolls. 



Archaeological occurrence: 



ISLA CANCUN MIDDEN: 2 unworked, For- 

 mative. 



Comment: It is strange that these common and 

 often strikingly beautiful shells were not more 

 widely collected and traded in ancient times. 



Family: NERITIDAE (nerites) 



Nerita julgurans Gmelin 



Illustration: Plate 2,aa,aa'. 



Modern distribution: Southern part of west coast, 

 from Isla Carmen to Champoton, Camp.; not 

 collected farther north; absent on north and east 

 coasts. 



Archaeological occurrence: 



MAYAPAN: (?) "several examples," both pierced 

 and unpierced, probably Decadent period (P, 



p. 387, fig. 44, ^,^)- 



TIKAL: 3 unworked, not dated (M-MS). 



Comment: It can be seen from the above modern 

 distribution that if Proskouriakoff's identification is 

 correct, these must be trade pieces from southern 

 Campeche. Her photographs are of the backs of 

 shells, and two of the three are very unclear. The 

 third (fig. 44,^) looks much more like N. tessellata 

 (see below), lacking the much finer spiral cording 

 which distinguishes julgwans from this species. We 

 are handicapped in identification by the usually 

 complete loss in archaeological specimens of the 

 strong color patterns which characterize the various 

 nerites. We suggest, however, that the Mayapan 

 specimens are TV. tessellata, thus placing their pro- 

 venience in the same geographical province as the 

 other molluscan fauna of the site. 



Nerita peloronta Linne 



Illustration: Plate 2,(r,cf. 



Modern distribution: Common on Caribbean coast 

 and the offshore atolls only; Boca Paila to Isla 

 Contoy, Q.R.; Alacran Reef, Cayo Areas. 



Archaeological occurrence: 



ISLA CANCUN MIDDEN: 20 unworked, For- 

 mative. 



Nerita tessellata Gmelin 



Illustration: Plate 2,b,b'. 



Modern distribution: Common on the Caribbean 

 coast and the offshore atolls, Turneffe Islands, 

 B.H., to Isla Contoy, Q.R.; Alacran Reef and 

 Cayo Areas. 



Archaeological occurrence: 



DZIBILCHALTUN: (?) i unworked. Forma- 

 tive, a damaged specimen with 3 rather than the 

 2 parietal teeth usually characterizing this species. 

 MAYAPAN: See N. julgurans, comment. 

 ISLA CANCUN MIDDEN: 2 unworked, For- 

 mative. 



UAXACTUN: i unworked, in late Classic stela 

 cache (RR, p. 199, pi. 67,e, 15; also K, p. 61; 

 listed in both sources as "Nerita praecognita C. B. 

 Adams," a West Indian variety of tessellata. This 

 specimen is probably the latter, which is common 

 on the nearby Caribbean shore. 



Nerita versicolor Gmelin 



Illustration: Plate 2,d,dd. 



Modern distribution: Common on Caribbean coast 

 only. Turneffe Islands, B.H., to Isla Contoy, Q.R. 



Archaeological occurrence: 



ISLA CANCUN MIDDEN: 96 unworked. For- 

 mative. 

 TIKAL: 5 unworked, not dated (M-MS). 



Neritina meleagris Lamarck 



Illustration: Sowerby, i84i,pl. 94. 



Modern distribution: Not collected in peninsular 



waters. 

 Archaeological occurrence: 



SAN JOSE: 24 unworked, from S.J. IV cache 



(T,p. 180). 



Neritina virginea (Linne) 



Illustration: Plate i,e,ee. 



Modern distribution: Common along entire littoral 

 of the peninsula, from Turneffe Islands to Isla 

 Carmen; also on the offshore atolls. 



Archaeological occurrence: 



DZIBILCHALTIN: i unworked. Formative. 

 MAYAPAN: Proskouriakoff mentions "one 

 Neritina specimen of unidentified species has a 

 large round hole" (P, p. 387). As virginea is the 

 only species reported from peninsular waters, it 

 is most probably this. 



SAN JOSE: i unworked specimen in cache ves- 

 sel, S.J. IV (Late Early period) (T, p. 180). 



