MALACOTECA Malacoteca of Species from the Tropical Ocean of Peru Authors: Manuel Gorriti Manchego y Víctor E. Falcón Huayta Introduction Gathering ambit Species collected Importance for precolonial Andean societies Acknowledgements Marine mollusks consumed and registered in coastal archaeological sites of the tropical ocean of the north coast of Peru are numerous and their inventory is growing larger on making new malacological analyses. On the other hand,   we have a group of mollusks (documented in non-subsistence contexts) that because of their singularity, rarity and beauty attracted the attention of precolonial Andean peoples since the times of the emergence of civilization. These, supply valves or shells which had a place in the imagination and religious rites of men and women since the beginnings of civilization in America. They were elements of distinction, prestige and ornament which adorned the members of high social elites. Among these mollusks we have: Spondylus princeps, Strombus galeatus, Fassiolaria princeps, Conus fergusoni, etc. The first two are, without a doubt, The most important species, as much for their antiquity and the character of their use, as for the use and varied meanings that were assigned to them, such as food for the gods, symbol of prestige, sacred object, mortuary offering and in rituals for the propitiation of water, etc. Also, Strombus (S. galeatus and S. peruvianus) serve as musical instruments (huayllaquepas or pututos) decorated with images of a sacred character, chiefly during Formative times, in the first millennia before the modern era. We presume that the same function was served by Fassiolaria princeps, a species not previously reported in the archaeological literature, but whose specimens have been located in the storerooms of our museum. The Conus fergusoni were associated with mortuary offerings and the elaboration of some sumptuary artifacts like, for example, goblets during Chimu times. This malacoteca is presently available to researchers in the Department of Organic Materials of the National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology and History of Peru. Fig. 3: Wooden idol with inlay of plaques of Spondylus princeps and mother of pearl. Site Museum of Cabeza de Vaca (Tumbes).