This post is made on behalf of a student at St. Mary's College of
Maryland researching cowrie shells recovered from a site along the
Patuxent River in Maryland.  

From Renee Malone: I am researching two cowrie shells recovered from
plow zone contexts at a c. 1711-1750 plantation on the Patuxent River in
Calvert County, MD. The two shells were found near the foundation of the
planter's dwelling. The top of one shell had been removed, perhaps to
allow thread through for use as jewelry or personal adornment. The
second shell is more unique in that it had lead poured into it the
shell's cavity. A lead eye - like the back of a button - had been
inserted in the lead. We believe that it may have also been used as some
sort of adornment, perhaps belonging to the same item as the first
shell. I assume the shells belonged to an enslaved person(s), but I also
recognize that the artifacts could have also come from objects owned and
used by the planter and/or his family.

An image of the second shell can be found at:
http://www.jefpat.org/3arch-current.htm; then click on Unusual Cowrie
shell.
 
I would appreciate any information anyone is willing to offer for my
research. Thank you, Renee Malone.
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