Ongoing Debate
The Vorrashi Pearl Monopoly: State Control or Clan Tradition?
This debate remains unresolved. The scholarly community is divided.
Dr. Emeka Okonjo
17
votes (47%)
36 total votes
Dr. Helena Vasquez-Mori
19
(53%) votes
Pearl harvesting among the Vorrashi was a sacred clan tradition governed by the river spirits, not an economic monopoly. The concentration of pearl artifacts in certain burial sites reflects spiritual status (river-keepers), not wealth accumulation. The Great Mother held custodianship of the pearl beds as a religious duty, not an economic privilege. Interpreting this through modern economic frameworks is anachronistic.
Supporting Evidence(click to expand)
The distribution of pearl artifacts overwhelmingly favors elite Vorrashi burial sites near the Ashenmere confluence — the most productive pearl beds. Statistical analysis shows a 94% correlation between burial proximity to productive beds and pearl artifact quantity. This is consistent with controlled access, whether framed as sacred or economic. The distinction between "sacred custodianship" and "state monopoly" may be a false dichotomy — in pre-state societies, these often overlap entirely.