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Spondylus: Trade and Exchange
Because of their immense value, the exchange and gifting of Spondylus shells among the elite played a vital role in the growth and maintenance of expanding empires. As a result, entire empires like that of the Chimú played key roles in the shell’s distribution.

Spondylus, found off the coast of Ecuador, were harvested from depths of 15-20m by divers. In order to help with a quick descent, it is believed that some divers used large stones as diving weights. The divers were often sponsored by the same elite members of society that controlled their distribution.

Spondylus were used in rituals, placed in tombs, offered to the gods, and made into tools and jewelry. Their material qualities and associations to the divine and fertility made them highly desirable goods. In fact, records show that this valuable bivalve made its way far south into Peru and as far up north as Mexico where their value was often higher than it was in Ecuador. There are few records of possible trade routes, but many experts believe that they were transported both on land and on water. However, the actual trading of Spondylus for other goods often happened in the center of cities in large, elaborate venues frequented by the elite. Records, like the Huarochirí manuscript or the description of Francisco Pizarro’s expedition off the coast of Tumbez in 1525, suggest that Spondylus were traded for other valuables like gold and silver objects, emeralds, crystals, textiles, food, and other perishables.