Conch Shell Horn

[Fentonian]

Found this a couple weeks back. The mouth piece is silver. A little back story to the find, the dam to my pond let loose this past winter and about three acres of water washed out into the Sandusky river behind my property, was walking the wash out area recently and I spotted this shell in the side of the bank. Roughly 3 feet below ground level. I pulled it out and behind it was a second shell. The second has a hole in the apex like the one with the mouth piece. All the horns look to be polished smooth on both shells. My question is, any idea on era or age of such a artifact? I believe it’s Native American, my other question is what would something like this have for a value? Seems to be rare as there is not much information online of such finds in Ohio. Thanks for any input!

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Minelab PRO-FIND 35 Waterproof Pinpointer Metal Detector for Experts with Tone ID & Adjustable Sensitivity - Grab it through Amazon!

[gheenoe78]

Never seen anything like that. Very curious what the others on this board can tell from it. Looks like a Florida or Caribbean conch shell. Don't see many like it from further north than Florida.

 

[Digger RJ]

Nice!!! Congrats!!! Did You test it to be Silver?

 

[CRUSADER]

Tagging post.

 

[ToddsPoint]

I found this small conch shell here in Cent. IL on an Indian site along the W. Okaw River. I may be wrong but I don't think these are native to IL. It looks similar to a "yellow conch". The Indians imported shells from the gulf. They had a good trading network. Gary

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Welcome to Tnet from Toronto Rock Hound.
This is very interesting, as I too have found shells similar to the one that Gary found on known native sites here in Ontario.

I might suggest that you repost your question and pics here for more opinions... North American Indian Artifacts

Dave

 

[Fentonian]

Nice!!! Congrats!!! Did You test it to be Silver?

Yes, rings in at a 34 on my nox

 

[smokeythecat]

Not sure on who put the silver piece on the shells, but probably not an American indian. Those are queen conchs, and are from southern Florida and the Caribbean. I have a couple I bought down there years ago.

 

[Indian Steve]

Here is one that came from West Virginia

 

[Fentonian]

Here is one that came from West VirginiaView attachment 1919560View attachment 1919561

What were you able to come up with as far as age of such a shell?

 

[Indian Steve]

I bought it at a flea market for $1. After i bought it, I asked the brothers who had it if they had any Indian Artifacts. They told me that they had just been at a estate auction that was mainly Indian Artifacts and relic sales were over $50,000 that day. I asked where the horn came from and was told it came out of the bottom of a box of junk from that auction. That is the only history that i have. She still sounds sweet & loud.