Cowrie Shell

This small shell was one of a handful recovered in 2015 during an archaeological dig at the Old City Hall in Boston. Cowrie shells are specific to the Indo-Pacific ocean and were historically used as currency in regions of West Africa. Archaeologists often interpret these shells as a sign of African American presence and worldview when found in North America. From 1708 to 1734 the property held the schoolmaster's house for Boston Latin School and was occupied by Nathaniel Williams and his family, along with their two enslaved Africans named Richard and Hagar. While there are many possible interpretations for the shells, it is possible that they belonged to Richard or Hagar, and serve as evidence of West African culture in early Boston.Scanned by Brian Schools.