Chaluka Aurora Talisman With Gemstone

Sterling Silver - $125.00

"Elsewhere the sky is the roof of the world; but here the earth is the floor of the sky."

Some of the oldest habitation sites in the north are located on Umnak, one of the eastern Aleutian Islands. The people of the Unanga culture lived at the Chaluka Village site some 9000 years ago! Digging at a level of approximately 3000 years ago, we came up with a small, dark piece of Ivory, into which were carved wriggling lines that made both of us say the word "Aurora!." It was worn as a Talisman, and could only have represented the Aurora Borealis, the powerful, flickering light curtains that appear in the northern skies almost nightly. These Northern Lights were thought to be spirits that had to either be confused by whistling at them, or somehow appeased. The person who wore this Talisman probably did both!

When we found a few dark pieces of rayed Fossil Walrus Ivory that looked just like the Aurora Borealis, and was from the same period near this site a few years later, we tried to recreate the power of our original find in a modern context. The results are our Chaluka Aurora Talismans I and II.

Chaluka Aurora Talisman I is handcrafted in Sterling Silver, with a simple bezel and full back. The Ivory is encased by two gently curving arms that meet below in your choice of gemstone. (Yellow Citrine, Amethyst, Garnet, Bright Green Quartz or Opal)

We retained the power and primitive feel of the original Talsiman by chasing a series of randomly placed indentations along the curves leading to the gemstone. Two sterling Silver spheres complete the symmetry. 1 3/8 inch wide,1 3/8 inch high. This Talisman speaks to finding our way safely through the unknowns in life.

Sterling Silver - Complete with Sterling Silver chain.