Bells
Among the most popular trade goods Columbus carried to the New World were small bells,
originally made in Europe for falconry (hence the common name "hawks' bells"). It is not unusual to find bells on historic
sites throughout Florida since they continued to be prized by Native Americans for centuries.
These bells were made of sheet brass or copper, and come in several shapes and sizes. One particular type, known as
Clarksdale bells, is generally believed to date to the 16th century and is often associated with early Spanish
explorers.
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