Накити, съдържащи раковини Monetaria (Cypraea) от фонда на Регионален исторически музей – Кърджали
Ornaments Containing Monetaria (Cypraea) Shells from the Fund of the Regional Museum of History – Kardzhali

Summary/Abstract: The subject of this study are two adornments from the fund of the Regional Museum of History – Kardzhali: the first one being from the ninth century and the second one being from the end of the nineteenth century. They include shells of the genus Monetaria sea snails (babki, cowrie) which are typical inhabitants of the Indo-Pacific tropical waters. The purpose of the study is to establish the species to which the shells belong and the symbolism with which they are loaded as parts of these ornaments. The cultural phenomenon of cowrie originates from the epipalleolite in the Middle East. Gradually spreading from there throughout Asia, Africa and Oceania, and through the Mediterranean, it reaches all parts of Europe, including Bulgaria, and the Eastern Rhodopes in particular.

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