Use of Fire in Shell Bead Manufacture at Cahokia

Abstract

This paper reports on the evidence for heat-treatment of marine shell in bead manufacture at the Cahokia site in Illinois. Of burned shell fragments, high percentages of burned columellas were found, suggesting that columellas were targeted for heat treatment. Additionally, the presence of all shell elements reveals that whole lightning whelk shells (Busycon sinistrum) were transported to Cahokia for artifact manufacture, probably after being de-fleshed. A columella bead-working reduction sequence is presented.