THE COWRIE SHELL

Why do we love the COWRIE Shell so much? Or, as I like to call them, the PINK PIG!

I cannot walk along the beach without keeping a beady eye out for these, in fact I have often become travel sick from walking with my head down scanning the sand around me for these tiny treasures! If you see my husband and I on the beach you will probably hear one or the other of us calling ‘PINK PIG!’ periodically as we find one. We will keep an account of how many we each find! I think he only does this as he knows it makes me happy!

But why do they draw us so much? For me, it is simply that they are so perfectly formed and tiny. You don’t often find them damaged. They seam to cope with the rigors of the sea so well.

However, the COWRIE Shell has held huge significance for many cultures throughout History. Worn as jewellery, used as currency, used as medicine and tied to spiritual traditions and rituals. Particularly in Africa, India and China.

The COWRIE Shell has been worn as jewellery though out the ages to…..

• Signify Prosperity.

• A symbol of femininity and fertility.

• To symbolise the strength and power of the Ocean and offer protection.

So much love and symbolism has not been shown to any other shell.

How lovely that we have our own variety of this amazing shell here at Llandanwg. The creature that resides within is a gastropod molluscs in the family Cypraeidae and lives on rocky shores or under stones below low tide. This explains why they are not found on our neighbouring beach in Harlech, as Harlech beach enjoys mile after mile of beautify sand.

Please bear in mind that the stunning large COWRIE Shells in these pictures are not found on Llandanwg Beach. These are a couple of shells I have had since childhood and originate from Africa.