Cowries Shells

Ninth century relics discovered in Hanyaameedhoo

A coral box dating back to the ninth century has been discovered buried underground on the island of Hanyaameedhoo in Alif Dhaal atoll. The box contained about a kilo of cowrie shells and an idol resembling a cow. Cowrie shells were used as currency in antiquity and the cow idol is believed to have been an object of worship.

Buried ancient relics found in Utheemu