Why did the ancients use shells as currency? Can you bring shells on an airplane?

Shells are the outer shells of molluscs living near water. They are formed by the secretion of a special glandular cell of the molluscs to protect the soft parts of the body. Shells come in many colors, including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. Many shells are colorful or mixed colors. Therefore, they are also very beautiful. The ancients also used shells as coins. Why is this? If you are interested, you can open it to learn more.

Contents of this article

1. Why did the ancients use shells as coins?

2. Can you bring shells on the plane?

3. How to clean shellfish meat

Why did the ancients use shells as coins?

Because shells are of moderate size, easy to carry, easy to count, and not easily damaged or broken. In the Neolithic Age, people did not know what metal was, but with the development of social economy and the formation of commodity society, bartering could not meet the needs of social life, and rare and suitable natural shells gradually served as the equivalent of commodity exchange.

At that time, there were not many people living in coastal areas, and shells were relatively scarce.

The primitive inhabitants believed that shellfish were small, colorful and very beautiful, so shellfish became a popular decoration.

The use of shells as currency can be traced back to the matriarchal society. Out of respect for women, shells that are loved by women have become precious.

Can you bring shells on an airplane?

Shells can be carried on board, but they must not be alive, otherwise they will be prohibited from being carried on board. When flying, you should also pay attention to the prohibition of carrying or checking in guns, military items, flammable and explosive items, poisonous items, corrosive items, and items that may endanger flight safety.

Shells can be carried on board an airplane, as they are not considered dangerous goods prohibited by civil aviation regulations. However, please note that the shells you carry cannot be living, otherwise you will be prohibited from carrying them on board an airplane.

When flying within my country, items that are prohibited from being carried on or checked in include firearms, military or police equipment and their imitations, ammunition, pyrotechnic products, blasting equipment and other explosive items.

In addition, controlled knives, corrosive items, poisons, radioactive items, flammable and explosive items, and other items that may endanger flight safety are also prohibited from being carried or checked in.

How to clean shellfish meat

1. Bivalves with many grooves on their shells

Generally speaking, for example, oysters and scallops have a lot of harmful substances such as mud, bacteria, etc. hidden in the grooves of the shell. It is recommended to use a brush to clean them. Wear rubber gloves when brushing to prevent scratches. After brushing the shell clean, soak it in light salt water for a while to let it spit out all the mud and sand. After washing, pry open the shell or blanch it until the shell opens automatically, then remove it and discard the black part on the side of the scallop (the part where the meat and the shell are connected), which is the internal organs.

2. Smooth-surfaced bivalves

Usually clams, razor clams, and cockles are the representatives. These shells are small and have a smooth surface. Generally, they need to be soaked in light salt water for 10 minutes, and the mud and sand will automatically fall off, and then scrubbed until the water is clear.

In addition, you can drop a little sesame oil into the light salt water, and then use chopsticks to prop up the colander containing clams or razor clams in the center of the basin. This will help them spit out a lot of mud and sand, and the spitted out sand will sink directly to the bottom, and the water that is sucked in will be clean. Wait until the clams and razor clams can no longer spit out mud and sand.

3. Univalves

The most common single-valve shell is abalone. When cleaning abalone, it is recommended to first cut the meat with a knife, remove the teardrop-shaped shadow on the side of the shell, which is the internal organs, and gently scrub it clean with a soft brush. If the abalone shell is used as a container, remember to scrub the shell inside and outside.

4. Snails

The most typical example is the field snail. After cleaning the shell with a soft brush, soak it in light salt water to let it spit out all the mud and sand, and change the water several times. When the water becomes clear, you can use pliers or scissors to remove the snail tail, which contains the internal organs and excretion organs, so that it will be more flavorful.