9. Which feature of the California-Intermountain environment best explains the Pomos!

use of clamshells for jewelry?

1. ocean B. mountains C. high desert D. redwood forest

"Ocean" feature of the California-Intermountain environment best explains the Pomos! use of clamshells for jewelry.

Answer: Option A

Explanation:

The Pomos are an indigenous Californian people and the historic Pomo territory in northern California was large and bordered to the west by the Pacific Coast.

The Pacific Ocean offered an abundance of shellfish to the Native Peoples of California long before the arrival of Europeans like lobster, abalone, mussel, olivella, and dentalium. They not only provided food but also shells were the raw material for beads, jewelry, coins, and fishhooks.

There were two distinct types of shell beads in California. The first of these were the "cash" beads obtainable by selling goods while the second type of shell beads has been correlated with class or rank in society.

Archaeology has found that since about 1200 AD clamshells-Saxidomus nuttalli and Tivela stultorum-have been used to make beads. Clamshell beads have been sold domestically into central California and Nevada.