When the spiraled white shell of a precious wentletrap was sold at auction in 1750, the highest bidder was none other than the Holy Roman Emperor, who shelled out no less than 4,000 guilders for the ...

Global phenomenon, local varieties -- The Maldives: procurement and export -- India: in the beginning -- Southeast Asia: intra-Asian interactions -- Yunnan: an Indian influence in the Southeast ...

Have you ever wondered about the true nature of cowrie shells? Where do they come from? Are they simply shells, or is there more to their story? You may have a vague understanding that cowries were ...

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - As the Savannah Black Heritage Festival continues to celebrate culture all month, a local museum is offering a hands-on experience to connect to the culture. The Savannah ...

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... “Before you do anything else,” curator Chris Meyer said the minute I arrived at the National Museum of Natural History’s Invertebrate Zoology collection, ...

Small seashells have many characteristics that make them ideal monetary objects. They are durable, portable, and difficult to imitate. One species of cowrie shell is known as the money shell because ...