Another black drink shell cup

[swamp monkey]

I finished another shell cup replica.  The shell cup measures 10 3/4" long, 6 1/4" wide, and 4" deep.  The shell was up to 1/4" thick.  This shell cup was made from a lightning whelk.  My first one was made from another species that whorled to the right.  According to archeologists, lightning whelks are what the natives used because they whorled to the left.  If you want to see the process visit http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,42399.msg568015.html#msg568015

These cups were used by prehistoric mound builders and historic southeastern tribes in their black drink ceremonies.  They used a Deep South native shrub deciduous holly Ilex vomitoria to brew the highly caffeinated drink.  As you might suspect by the plant's scientific name, part of the ceremony involved vomiting. 

Thanks for looking. 

[swamp monkey]

BTW the design is a faithful copy of a shell cup found at Spiro OK.   

[Pat B]

Nice shell cup, BM. Whelk shells spiral to the left, I think.

[Badly Bent]

Very Nice work, a piece of art.

[swamp monkey]

Nice shell cup, BM. Whelk shells spiral to the left, I think.

Pat, you are correct.  Changes made above.  Thanks.

SM

[Pat B]

Sorry for the BM, SM. 

[JW_Halverson]

I really want one of these!  It's just too cool for words!

Thanks, too, for the anthropological insights, too!

[Zuma]

Now that is a well crafted  replica.
I like it much.
Zuma

[swamp monkey]

Here is a photo of the original.

[nclonghunter]

That reminds me of an Aztec or Inca design. Is that drawing considered a south eastern design? I believe the Cherokee partook of the black drink. I tried it an event but I think it was rum

[swamp monkey]

That reminds me of an Aztec or Inca design. Is that drawing considered a south eastern design? I believe the Cherokee partook of the black drink. I tried it an event but I think it was rum

As best I can understand it the mound Building culture spawned a lot of our historic tribes.  Mound builders occupied a lot of the Deep South and the Midwest. So it makes sense that their customs and art would end up in more recent native people groups.

[wildman]

That is super cool, and insightful. I have had a few of those ceremonies, but usually it was the white drink in a Mason jar 
Did you scrimshaw that?

[swamp monkey]

Did you scrimshaw that?

Yes I did.  It gives me a lot of respect for those who did this with sandstones and flint flakes!

[swamp monkey]

Here is link with instructions for brewing the black drink. 

http://jworthblog.blogspot.com/2014/03/brewing-black-drink.html.
You southern fellas are going to have to let me know how it turns out. I have deciduous holly up here but not that species.  Enjoy!

[swamp yeti]

You have the gene,you are an artist.