Dentalium shells definition. Definition of dentalium shell in the Definitions.

Dentalium shells definition. The word dentalium, as commonly used by Native American artists and anthropologists, refers to tooth shells or tusk shells used in indigenous jewelry, adornment, and commerce in western Canada and the United States. Mar 25, 2022 · A dentalium cape or dentalium dress is a garment worn by Native American women that is made from the stringing together of dentalium shells in a circular pattern around the neck and across the chest and shoulders. These lightweight, durable shells were highly valued by Native American tribes for trade, jewelry and ceremonial use. Meaning of dentalium shell. Their smooth, curved shape resembles a tusk, which is why they are often called tusk shells. net dictionary. Learn about their traditional uses. from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition. There are two types of dentalium found along the Pacific coast of North America. Characterized by their elongated, tubular shells that resemble small elephant tusks, dentaliums are found in sandy or muddy marine environments, burrowing into sediments to feed Dentalium is a large genus of tooth shells or tusk shells, marine scaphopod molluscs in the family Dentaliidae. Dentalium, a tusk shell often used in Indigenous jewelry, caught her eye in particular. What does dentalium shell mean? Information and translations of dentalium shell in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Apr 29, 2025 · Dentalium shells are small, tubular shells from a type of deep-sea mollusk. Definition of dentalium shell in the Definitions. Dentalium shells are the elongated, tubular shells of marine mollusks that were historically used as a form of currency and trade among Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest. Unfortunately, knowledge of the chronol-ogy and context of such uses is relatively poorly documented. Dentalium - Definition, Etymology, and Cultural Significance Definition Dentalium refers to the common name for a group of carnivorous mollusks in the class Scaphopoda, typically known as tusk shells or tooth shells. These animals are named for their distinctive slender, tubular, tusk-like shells open at both ends, which have fascinated biologists and humans alike for centuries. . The meaning of DENTALIUM is any of a genus (Dentalium) of widely distributed tooth shells; broadly : tooth shell. noun Any of various tusk shells of the genus Dentalium, some of which are used for ornament and were used by native peoples of western North America as currency. Aptly, dentalium are sometimes referred to as tusk shells as they are whitish and gently curved. [1] The genus contains 50 described species and about 50 extinct species. Dentalium, commonly known as tusk shells or tooth shells, is a genus of marine molluscs belonging to the class Scaphopoda. Apr 30, 2025 · Discover the rich history and cultural significance of Dentalium shells (tusk shells) in Native American regalia and art. Although Dentalium shells were particularly prized by Pacific Northwest tribes, Native peoples of the southern California coast also used Dentalium shell beads. ad qdc w7khho ctzoa vxph 2yqh dkll n06 ch ngohj