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Short history of spondylus in the South American Pacific: A symbol that returns at present

Abstract:

Spondylus species form a group of mollusks of great importance within American cultures since the third millennium BC until 17 th century AD, and have received greater recognition over the last decades. The present article is a synthetic chronology of Spondylus symbolism in different cultures of South America's past. Through the historical reconstruction of the use of Spondylus, the role played by this mollusk in South American history, which has allowed and enhanced the interaction between different cultures, is exposed. Nowadays, especially in Ecuador, Spondylus has resurfaced as a symbol of great importance, assuming a link between regions and uniting the present communities with their historical past.