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Exploring the Early Americas The Jay I. Kislak Collection
Calling People to Gather (15)

Stucco painted conch shell.
Maya, AD 700–900.
Jay I. Kislak Collection, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress (15)

Calling People to Gather 

An artist has applied stucco to this conch shell, then decorated it with figures of deities for probable use in a princely Maya court. Indigenous tribes blew into conch shells to gather crowds and open ceremonies. Their sound is mystical and otherworldly, providing a touch of the supernatural.