Page 10 - aruba-today-20230929

Friday 29 September 2023 locAl
A10

Episode 58: Quiripa, Indian button, Dutch pipes, fish bones and shells

Since prehistoric times ered as symbols of politi- place were broken Strom-
many things were used to cal status and valued as a bus shells were abundant.
make jewelry and orna- commercial article. Strombus shells were often
ments. The existence of used for the manufactur-
man and his participation In Aruba, fish bones, sea ing of various decorative
in the manufacture of trib- shells and feathers were and ceremonial orna-
al objects was spiritually used to make these types ments. Some of the elabo-
essential. The purpose of of objects but only a few rated Strombus shells that
these objects was to give kind of white seashell were we have discovered were
a sense of distinction. Since considered in the fabrica- zoomorphic in shape. One
ancient times there was an tion of quiripa. Quiripa`s was in the form of daggers
incessant demand to sat- were mostly circular in and some had one or more
isfy the social group’s re- shape and had a central perforations, while others
quest. perforation were a string were not yet finished or
could be passed through. drilled. Contemporary Aru-
These artistic creations This was in order to make ban natives calls the circu-
worked as a medal of chokers or necklaces in a lar made Strombus shell,
bravery for a warrior, as a wide variety of sizes and “boton di Indjan” because
symbol of recognition and shapes. Diameter of a sin- of their similarity to clothing
also as a magic totem for gle quiripa could be from buttons.
shamans and clan leaders, 2mm while other could be
a talisman to drive away as big as 10 cm. These shell buttons or qui-
omens and bad spells. Oth- ripa were found in large
ers promoted physical re- During one of many expe- numbers during an archae-
cuperation or spiritual heal- ditions we held, accom- ological rescue excavation
ing and spread powers of panied by late Dutch Ar- in the Santa Cruz district of
body cleansing. However, cheologist Dr. Eb Boerstra Aruba. They should know
they were always consid- we had stumbled upon a that Santa Cruz was a very work into jewelry. dants and bracelets. These
important settlement dur- were already perforated,
ing the Aruba Ceramic Pe- On the island of Pascua since the pipe air intake
riod and a highly organized or Easter Island in Chile, its served as an easily string
community. inhabitants are reminded pass through.
of Polynesian customs and
The remarkable thing is when they say goodbye to In 1985 during an intern
that different cultures from their acquaintances they archaeological field ex-
around the world continue do so by giving them a shell pedition a great quan-
to use these objects with necklace that recalls the lei tity of broken Dutch pipes
the similar purposes with garland of the Hawaiians. were discovered at Wela,
which our ancestors used a place situated east of
to do it. In Africa the Wodaabe Frenchman pass. Many
produce bracelets with Cy- broken fragments of these
We also know that the land praea shells and in Mauri- small tubular shaped ce-
shells of the Bulimulus snail tania the shells are used as ramic pipes were found just
genus were used by the jewelry by women. on the surface of the land
natives of Texas to make and some still had the taba-
necklaces; Stillman Berry, The shells have been and co holding cavity in tack. A
an American marine zoolo- continue to be inspiration- complete necklace made
gist, records a necklace of al objects for handicrafts out of Dutch pipes was
land shells of the Oreohe- since the time of the Incas found. These pipes were
lix yavapai species made and Egyptians. common in places that
by Javasupai natives from functioned as trade settle-
the Coconino county in Ari- After the arrival of Euro- ments with native commu-
zona.
peans other materials nities. Many of these pipes
were incorporated in their were also found around
These types of land shells elaborations of jewelry, Alto Vista Chapel area at
are difficult to obtain and like glazed ceramic frag- the Northside of the island
are even more delicate to
ments, glass and tubular and many other places of
Article by: Etnia Nativa fragments of white or red the island. Natives knew
ceramic Tabaco pipes and very well how to use, reuse
Whatsapp us +297 592 2702 and book Dutch Gouda pipes. These or recycle everything they
your Aruban exprerience broken pipe parts were had and produced almost
Etnia Nativa is close to the high rise hotels used as for beats in pen- no waste at all.q