The engraving on this shell depicts a falcon warrior wearing a beaked mask, a cloak of feathers, and ear spools. Vomit or a speech scroll emanates from his mouth. Falcon regalia connect the human warrior to the sky realm, giving him special powers. Interior Mississippian tribes traveled to the coast in great numbers in the springtime to gather conch shells, using them as ceremonial cups to hold a liquid made from the yaupon plant. They would then drink the “black tea” in order to induce vomiting, a purging action of cleansing the body as a form of transformative prayer.