Michael S. Foster reports on the discovery of ornamental chains in the New World before the arrival of the Spanish.
Michael S. Foster, "The Archaeology of Durango," in Greater Mesoamerica: The Archaeology of West and Northwest Mexico, ed. Michael S. Foster and Phillip C. Weigland (Salt Lake City: The University of Utah Press, 2000), 214
West Coast pottery and other artifacts were found at Molino. Guasave Red-on-buff, Lolandis Red-rimmed, Iguanas Polychrome, Tuxpan Engraved, Mangos Engraved, Santiago Red-on-orange, and Culiacán Polychrome are represented. Smoking pipes, like the Cocoyolitos types from Chametla and those described for Tacuichamona (Sauer and Brand 1932), were also present along with copper bells, a Tlaloc effigy, a copper turtle and other pendants, a crescent pectoral, a seal, rings, bracelets, chains, and needles. Projectile points, stone sculptures and palettes, small carved stone ornaments, a carved stone incense burner, and shell pendants, beads, a carved pectoral, and bracelets were also found, as were rectangular notched sherds, possible fishing net weights, small stone discoids, metates, stone molcajetes, pestles, three-quarter-grooved axes, and hammerstones.