Ancient Barava Fragment (land title deed)
Origin: Western Solomon Islands
Dimensions: 5.11" x 3.95" (15 cm)
Materials: Fossilized Tridacna Gigus (giant clam shell)
Provenance: Private Collection Evreux, Haute-Normandie, France
Barava (land title deed) of the western Solomon Islands. This item is considered an original document of title to the land tribales. It was a tangible symbol of the wealth of a tribe, identity and pride in their land. It is made from a fossilized shell of Tridacna has been carefully carved with repeating patterns. Barava, often fragmented, are kept by the natives in the Tambu's house, where the skulls are also retained. The giant clam, Tridacna gigas (known as pā'ua in Cook Islands Māori), is the largest living bivalve mollusc. It is one of the most endangered clam species. It was mentioned as early as 1825 in scientific reports. One of a number of large clam species native to the shallow coral reefs of the South Pacific and Indian oceans, they can weigh more than
