Product Details

Primitive Shark/Fish Totem – Charleston Fossil Co. This authentic stone carving from Charleston Fossil Co. is a primitive totem shaped like a shark or fish, recovered from offshore renourishment spoil along the South Carolina Coastal Plain. Measuring approximately 8.6 cm long, 2.1 cm wide, and 1.6 cm thick, and weighing 32.6 grams, the piece is carved from durable stone (likely quartzite or similar) and retains its natural patina. A carefully drilled perforation near one end indicates it was almost certainly worn or carried as a personal amulet or pendant. Such symbolic carvings are rare regional examples of ancient Indigenous craftsmanship. For thousands of years, Archaic and later Woodland peoples—including the Sewee, Waccamaw, Santee, Edisto, Kiawah, and Cusabo—thrived along the Carolina coast, crafting tools and spiritual items from stone, bone, and shell while living in close connection with rivers, estuaries, and the sea. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.