A Breif History of the Concho Belt

By A Mystery Man Writer

Description

The word concho, sometimes spelled concha, comes from the Spanish word meaning shell. Some of the first “conchos” were made of melted silver dollars and resembled a shell—it is commonly thought this is how the name came about. In Spanish, the correct word is concha, with an a at the end and is pronounced like an ah sound. However, most people now-a-days refer to the Native American style belt as a concho belt, with an o.Although it is commonly said the Navajo (Dine’) borrowed the idea from Spaniards, the Concho Belt has become a long-standing Native tradition. Concho Belts reportedly began appearing in Navajo country in the late 1860s or early 1870s. Other Native Americans including the Zuni and Hopi also made traditional Concho Belts before long.

The Fascinating History of Navajo Concho Belts

The first comprehensive, exclusive study of Navajo concha belts, this extraordinary reference work is poised to be by far the most in-depth authority on the subject. Although most books about Southwestern Indian jewelry do include concha belts peripherally, this focused research by expert Donald P. Richards serves as a truly invaluable resource.