This is a particulary nice and well preserved ivory cowry. The ivory has acquired some cracks. This was purchased as a Jade cowrie but it turned out to be ivory. Chinese sources say these are occasionally found and that the source of the ivory is unknown. This form attemps to imitate a real cowry fairly closely and has two holes. The only known type I do not have represented here is a type allegedly made of wood (see added wood cowries in excellent shape - suspicious). Preservation of this material would make an authentic example very rare.
22 x 19 x 8 mm
Moneta Library has articles on Cowries to VIEW and DOWNLOAD:
The Worlds's First Money, Chinese Cowries and Their Imitations - by Ted Puls: The Worlds Oldest Money Cowries Ted Puls
Cowries - Bob Reis: COWRIES Reis
Origin of Cowries in Ancient China - UofPa: Origin of Cowries in Ancient China
Metallic Cowries - Royal Asiatic Society: Metallic Cowries - Royal Asiatic Society
Nice Video on Cowrie history: http://tinyurl.com/CowrieVideo
An excellent article in ANA's "Numismatist" magazine, Oct 2017 > http://onlinedigitalpublishing.com/publication/?i=440085&ver=html5&p=40
SEE how far back in time decorative sea shells were important to prehistoric man at his : https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090505163021.htm
Interested in Primitive Money? Then check out this YouTube video created by Kagins Auctions featuring Bob Leonard and Charles Opitz upon the massive sale in March 2021. Click this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MIKxfbAaZg
appears to be an example of Upper Xiajiadian culture cowrie.
TP - thanks, great detailed info is hard to come by. I add these notes to the text above.