1877.] Stone Implements and Ornaments. 271 
II. Earthen-ware beads. 
IHI. Turquoises. 
IV. Pendants. 
(A, of stone; B, of pottery.) 
The marine shells which were converted into beads by the an- 
cient tribes, so far as has been ascertained by the investigations 
of the United States Geological Survey, during the summer of 
1875, were the Oliva and (possibly) the Busycon, or Murex. Of 
the former genus we were so fortunate as to discover at least one 
species. Figure 7, Plate I., represents a specimen of the Oliva 
biplicata (probably), although the shell! is so weather worn that 
the specific characteristics are almost entirely obliterated. Still, 
it strongly resembles this species of the Pacific coast, and is very 
likely the same. This size, however, was not so common as a 
larger variety which is, in all likelihood, a more fully developed 
representative of the same species. The first samples of these 
shell beads were taken from the site of an old ruin where they had 
been lying for many centuries, until they had become entirely 
decomposed. Through Eastern Utah and south into Arizona 
many Olivas were found scattered through the débris of crum- 
bling walls and broken pottery. The perforation has been ef- 
fected by grinding down the apex so that a thong would pass 
through the shell lengthwise. Of the genus Busycon, or Murez, 
was found but one doubtful example. The beads made from this 
were of two sizes and usually white. The smaller variety was 
flat on both sides, or slightly convex on one side and concave on 
the other (Figure 58), as thin as a wafer, and the circumference 
of an ordinary pea. In the centre a neatly bored hole © 
enabled the owner to string them together in the © 
form of a necklace. The larger variety was about 
the circumference of an average buck shot. Such beads were 
evidently held in great esteem by the wearers, and among the 
ruins they are extremely rare, only a few specimens having been 
found. Captain John Moss, of Parrott City, Col., says that 
these beads are valued highly by the present Navajo Indians to 
the south, a small string, when such can be found, bringing in 
exchange a good horse. 'The Navajoes are constantly grubbing 
about the old buildings and adjacent graves in search of these- 
trinkets; this accounts in some measure for their great scarcity 
among the ruins to-day. They were undoubtedly obtained by 
the ancients from other tribes who brought them, or at least the 
1 It may be Olivella gracilis. 
(Fia. 58.) 
