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Marine Shell Traders and travelers brought items into the area from far away.  These included many different kinds of raw materials for stone tool, as well as marine shell and copper made into items that may have represented valued ornaments or personal items.  Although we know of only the durable materials, other items such as feathers, hides and food were probably also widely traded.

This perforated marine shell bead indicates trade or contact with other groups, probably from the Gulf of Mexico.  The marine shell bead was recovered during excavations in 1983 at the Overhead site, located just south of La Crosse, Wisconsin.