Archaeological evidence indicates that people in
Neolithic Europe were trading the shells of
S. gaederopus to make bangles and other ornaments throughout much of the Neolithic period. The main period of Neolithic use appears to have been from around 5350 to 4200 BC. In fact, much like in Europe, the trade in
Spondylus shells also reached far and wide, as pre-Hispanic Ecuadorian peoples traded them with peoples as far north as present-day
Mexico and as far south as the central
Andes. The
Moche people of ancient
Peru regarded the sea and animals as sacred; they used
Spondylus shells in their art and depicted
Spondylus in effigy pots. Spondylus also were harvested from the
Gulf of California and traded to tribes throughout Mexico and the American Southwest.
Spondylus shells were the driving factor of trade within the Central Andes and were used in a similar manner to gold nuggets, copper hatches, coca, salt, red pepper, and cotton cloth. The use of
Spondylus shells is what led to an economy of sorts in the Central Andes and led to the development of a merchant class, "mercardes", in different cultures within the Central Andes. This caused the development of different styles of trade that went through evolutionary changes throughout pre-Columbian times. These are reciprocity (home based), reciprocity (boundary), down-the-line trade, central place redistribution, central place market exchange, emissary trading, and port of trade. These modes of trade dictate the way that the
Spondylus shells are traded, as well as who is benefiting the most from the trades. Modes such as central place redistribution require the entity that is the central place to be the one that gains the most benefit from the trade, and modes such as emissary trading and port of trade are the modes that started the "mercardes" class within the Central Andes. The value of
Spondylus shells in the Central Andes stems from supply and demand. There was a great demand for
Spondylus shells due to the "fetishistic needs to the south". Even today, there are collectors of
Spondylus shells, and a commercial market exists for them. Additionally, some species (especially
S. americanus) sometimes are found in the saltwater aquariums.
S. limbatus was commonly ground for mortar in Central America, giving raise to its junior synonym, "
S. calcifer".
Spondylus is fished primarily for its adductor muscle, or "callus", which is a high-value foodstuff. Some Mediterranean species are edible and are commonly consumed, with
S. gaederopus in particular being popular in
Sardinia. Tropical species, however, tend to bioaccumulate
saxitoxin. The Romans ate Spondylus species. Macrobius in Saturnalia III.13 describes a dinner party in 63 BCE in which there were two courses of
Spondylus.
Aztec culture In addition to its significance in the
pre-Columbian times,
Spondylus crassiquama was also an important part of
Aztec culture.
Spondylus held immense religious significance in
pre-Columbian Aztec culture and is also a great representation of the relationship between the Aztec empire and nature. To Aztec groups and peoples,
Spondylus was a gift from the deities to be celebrated. Certain
Spondylus groups were formed as a result of when and where they may be found seasonally and tend to connect a particular group of
Spondylus to specific religious symbols such as the Fertility goddess, the Moon goddess, the Sun god, and the mountain spirits. This led to certain groups of
Spondylus being associated with seasonal weather events such as heavy rains or increases in sea temperature along the coast, as those events were closely associated with particular deities or spirits in
Aztec culture.
Spondylus had several key uses in
pre-Columbian Aztec history, most predominantly its importance in jewelry, art, and sculpture. Another use of
Spondylus, that had to be executed with extreme detail and precision, was to create breathtaking masks, vests, and other items individuals would use to express how important or wealthy they were in life and death. Having the most beautiful
Spondylus pieces, meant that individual had immense power within the community. == Species ==