Thirty two pieces were collected. They are classified as bracelets, spatulas, perforated pieces and worked pieces.

(a) Bracelets

There are twenty-seven artifacts in this category (Fig. 13:1-26, 28, Plate XIX: 1-27). They constitute the highest percentage of all the shell artifacts collected (Table 11). All but one are fragments (Fig. 13:4, Plate XIX :4). However, many of them are large enough to permit reconstruction of the original form. A hole ranging from 4 to 8 cm in maximum diameter was cut through the shell of a bivalve. The remaining part was ground and polished and smoothed. They can be classified into two groups: A) those with smoothly polished surfaces (Fig. 13:1-3, 5-8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 24, 25, 28, Plate XIX:1-3, 5, 7-11, 14, 17, 18, 22, 23), and B) those with slightly polished surfaces so that the radial ribs can still be seen clearly (Fig. 13:4, 9, 11-13, 16-20, 23, 26, Plate XIX:4, 6,12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20, 24-27).

Figure 13: Shell artifacts. Bracelets (1-26,28), spatulas (27,31), worked pieces (29, 30) and perforated piece (32) (Scale 1/2). 1 (K-84); Bracelet (fragment). From layer B. Material, Anadara satowi nipponensis (Plate XIX:5). 2 (K-109); Bracelet (fragment). From layer E. Material, Anadara satowi nipponensis (Plate XIX: 2). 3 (K-104); Bracelet (fragment). From layer E. Material, Anadara satowi nipponensis (Plate XIX:3). 4 (K-111); Bracelet. From layer E. Material, Anadara satowi nipponensis (Plate XIX:4). 5 (K-108); Bracelet (fragment). From layer E. Material, Anadara satowi nipponensis (Plate XIX: 10). 6 (K-81); Bracelet (fragment). From layer B. Material, Anadara satowi nipponensis (Plate XIX:22). 7 (K-90); Bracelet (fragment). From layer C. Material, Glycymeris albolineata (Plate XIX:8). 8 (K-91); Bracelet (fragment). From layer C. Material, possibly Glycymeris albolineata (Plate XIX: 23). 9 (K-86); Bracelet (fragment). From layer B. Material, Anadara satowi nipponensis (Plate XIX:27). 10 (K-87); Bracelet (fragment). From layer B. Material, Glycymeris albolineata (Plate XIX:16). 11 (K-95); Bracelet (fragment). From layer C. Material, Anadara Satowi nipponensis (Plate XIX: 13). 12 (K-103); Bracelet (fragment). From layer E. Material, Anadara satowi nipponensis (Plate XIX:19). 13 (K-94); Bracelet (fragment). From layer C. Material, Anadara satowi nipponensis (Plate XIX:26). 14 (K-93); Bracelet (fragment). From layer C. Material, Anadara satowi nipponensis (Plate XIX:7). 15 (K-102); Bracelet (fragment). From layer E. Material, Anadara satowi nipponensis (Plate XIX: 11). 16 (K-107); Bracelet (fragment). From layer E. Material, Anadara satowi nipponensis (Plate XIX:20). 17 (K-110); Bracelet (fragment). From layer E. Material, Anadara satowi nipponensis (Plate XIX:12). 18 (K-83); Bracelet (fragment). From layer B. Mateiral, Anadara satowi nipponensis (Plate XIX:15). 19 (K-88); Bracelet (fragment). From layer B. Material, Anadara satowi nipponensis (Plate XIX:24). 20 (K-112); Bracelet (fragment). From layer F. Material, Anadara satowi nipponensis (Plate XIX:6). 21 (K-82); Bracelet (fragment). From layer B. Material, Anadara satowi nipponensis (Plate XIX: 14). 22 (K-105); Bracelet (fragment). From layer E. Material, Anadara satowi nipponensis (Plate XIX:9). 23 (K-85); Bracelet (fragment). From layer B. Material, Anadara satowi nipponensis (Plate XIX:21). 24 (K-106); Bracelet (fragment). From layer E. Material, Anadara satowi nipponensis (Plate XIX:1). 25 (K-92); Bracelet (fragment). From layer C. Material, Glycymeris albolineata (Plate XIX:18). 26 (K-101); Bracelet (fragment). From layer D Material, Anadara satowi nipponensis (Plate XIX:25). 27 (K-96); Spatula. From layer C. Material, Meretrix lamarckli (Plate XIX:29). 28 (K-80); Bracelet (fragment). From layer B. Material, Glycmeris albolineata (Plate XIX:17). 29 (K-89); Worked piece. Polished edge of shell. From layer B. Material, Anadara satowi nipponensis (Plate XIX:32). 30 (K-99); Worked piece. Polished smooth, flat edge of shell, From layer C. Material, Meretrix lamarckii (Plate XIX:30). 31 (K-97); Spatula. From layer C. Marerial, Meretrix lamarckii (Plate XIX:31). 32 (K-98); Perforated piece. Thin section of pearl layer perforated at one end. From layer C. Material, Haliotis sp. (Plate XIX: 28).

Plate XIX: Shell artifacts (Scale 1/2). 1-27; Bracelets, 28; Perforated piece, 29,31; Spatulas, 30,32; Worked piece

(b) Spatulas

There are two pieces in this category (Fig. 13:27, 31, Plate XIX:29, 31). They are made by grinding and polishing smooth the surfaces of bivalve shells and grinding the edges blunt.

(c) Perforated Piece

There is only one piece. It is a small, thin section of the nacreous inner layer perforated at one end (Fig. 13:32, Plate XIX:28).

(d) Worked Pieces

Two worked pieces were collected (Fig. 13:29, 30, Plate XIX:30, 32). They are the shells of bivalves polished smooth or flat on the edges.

1) Frequency by Layer (Table 11)

The size of the collection is not sufficient to make definite statements about relative frequencies. Nevertheless, a few comments are in order. Bracelets are found in all layers except Layer A. Relative to the area covered by each layer, the quantity of bracelets appears highest in Layer E and lowest in Layers D and F with only one bracelet in each layer. These layers also have low concentrations of shells in general, and shell artifact types other than bracelets are lacking altogether. However, these other types are found in Layers B, C and E where the concentration of shells is relatively high. This suggests a relation between the nature of the deposit (i.e. the concentration of shells) and the quantity of shell artifacts.

2) Materials

Only four species were used for artifacts. Bracelets were made from two species - Anadara satowi nipponensis and Glycymeris albolineata, especially the former (Table 12). Other artifact types were made from either Haliotis sp. or Meretrix lamarckii.

As already mentioned in Chapter III, these four shells live in the upper sublittoral zone of the open sea. Furthermore, they are all low in frequency, and most are modified for some use. It is possible that these species were gathered (or acquired through trade) as the materials for implements rather than as food resources.