Conch-shell trumpets discovered in Neolithic settlements and mines in Catalonia have been played for the first time in millennia, producing tones similar to a French horn, according to researchers from the University of Barcelona.
The 12 large shell trumpets, dated to between the late fifth and early fourth millennia BC, were found in archaeological sites across Catalonia. Archaeologist and professional trumpet player Miquel López García, along with colleague Margarita Díaz-Andreu, conducted acoustic experiments on eight intact shells in November 2024, obtaining a 'really powerful, stable tone'.
The researchers note that the shells appear to have been collected after the sea snails had died, suggesting non-culinary use. The removal of the pointed tips indicates they were modified as trumpets. López García found that by placing his hand in the shell's opening, he could change and lower the tone, while blowing with different sounds altered the timbre.
The study, published in the journal Antiquity, posits that the shell trumpets may have served as long-distance communication devices between communities or within variscite mines where six shells were found. López García describes them as 'among the first instruments or pieces of sound technology known throughout human history', noting their similarity to modern brass instruments.
Similar conch-shell trumpets have been found elsewhere in Europe, including one from the Marsoulas Cave in France dated to around 18,000 BC, indicating a long tradition of such instruments. The researchers suggest that beyond utilitarian functions, the shells had 'expressive qualities hinting at broader musical applications'.
