Ancient Chamorros donned various styles of necklaces called ålas and salape that were made of seashells and tortoiseshell. As is common throughout much of Oceania, these forms of body adornment also served as currency and were often indicative of wealth and prestige. It also symbolized gender. The females used the Spondylus necklaces and the males used the sinåhi necklaces.
On the island of Tinian, skilled jewelry makers were noted in a village known as Fanutugan-Ålas or “Place where ålas are threaded.” Most often, the type of shell used for these necklaces was the red Spondylus (spiny oyster shell ). In its entirety, the shell includes spike-like projections. These spikes were cut from the main body of the shell and then into segments that formed O-shaped disks. These disks were commonly strung on coconut fiber sennit (coir) as the pendant.
On the island of Tinian, skilled jewelry makers were noted in a village known as Fanutugan-Ålas or “Place where ålas are threaded.” Most often, the type of shell used for these necklaces was the red Spondylus (spiny oyster shell ). In its entirety, the shell includes spike-like projections. These spikes were cut from the main body of the shell and then into segments that formed O-shaped disks. These disks were commonly strung on coconut fiber sennit (coir) as the pendant.