PRE HISTORIC HOHOKAM SHELL BRACELET ARIZONA ESTATE FIND

Classic Period Hohokam Shell Bracelet
Hohokam were prehistoric Indians who lived and farmed around the Gila and Salt River or Phoenix Basin area between 300 BC and 1400 AD. They settled in the southern and eastern portions of Arizona, southwestern New Mexico and northern Mexico.  During the 15th century Hohokam culture disintegrated.  This Classic Period Hohokam (1100-1450) shell ornament bracelet is from Marana Tanque Verde Phase 1100-1300, an early Classic platform mound community in the Tucson Basin.  The shells from which the ornaments are made were traded for. They are  Glycimeris  a genus of marine bivalve mollusks.  Glycimeris gigantea is the largest of the species and is found in the Gulf of California. It was a nine day journey on foot to bring these shells north to Arizona.  This bracelet is from the Estate of a Tucson collector and archeologist for over 50 years, Mr. Eugene B. Thomas.  It is in excellent condition except for one small chip on the outside diameter.  The bracelet averages about 3-1/4" in diameter with and inside measurement of 2-5/8".
This ancient Hohokam Glycimeris bracelet  has been authenticated by Fred Gumbart.  Mr. Fred Gumbart is the owner/appraiser of Arizona Galleries (520-322-6388). He specializes (by appointment only) in consultations, and he is an official, licensed, and accredited appraiser of Fine Period Antiques, Fine Art, Ethnographic Art, Pre-Columbian Art and the Asian Arts. Fred is a lifelong, serious, third- generation collector of art, antiques and artifacts, and has been seen on the PBS History Detectives TV Show concerning antiques and artifacts.