Conch Daggers
Comments by Henk K. Mienis
Conchdaggers i.e. pointed weapons made out
of the shell of Strombus in general and Strombus gigas in particular.
Robert G. Moolenbeek has traced some archaeological records concerning this
subject from the Antilles (in press in the C.B. Ned. Malac. Ver., which is
the newsletter of the Dutch Malacological Society).
Today I came across an article dealing with Strombus gigas on the internet
referring to weapons made out of the Queenconch in Miami some 3000 years ago.
In Sea-Stats No. 14 - Queen Conch (www.epa.gov/gumpo/seast14.html),
V.N. Stewart writes:
".....A Miami excavation had evidence of use of conch 3000 years ago.
The shells were widely used as cooking pots and parts of shells were used
as chisels, knives, scrapers and hooks, as well as important personal adornment
items, such as necklaces, pendants, earrings and buttons. They were also used
as ceremonial items and "trumpets".
The exact source for this information is not clear from the list of references.