🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Some sort of clam shell?

[JVA5th]

I've always been curious why these thick heavy shells come up in certain areas of my families 20 acre property. We are in the central valley in California in a small town called Atwater. The land here is kind of like beach sand. Since we had a wind storm it left all the heavy stuff on top so I decided to collect some pieces of these shells to post here. Also mind you there is no water ways or anything near here all just sandy fields. These aren't like anything I find in the lakes and rivers here at all huge compared to what you'd find in the rivers and lakes. If anyone has any ideas let me know.

 

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[JVA5th]

View attachment 1985978

Looks about right, was just trying to see if they are old. Thank you

 

[ToddsPoint]

You can make some dandy jewelry out of those scrap shells. I find pieces of mussel shells around here and have used them to make things. This is an anchor pendant I made using a Dremel and diamond burs.

 

[Older The Better]

You say not near water? Could be a midden or what’s left of one, you might look for artifacts around the shells

 

[NJearthman]

If these shells are from the San Joaquin Formation they would be Pliocene in age approximately 5.3 to 2.6 million years old.

 

[JVA5th]

You can make some dandy jewelry out of those scrap shells. I find pieces of mussel shells around here and have used them to make things. This is an anchor pendant I made using a Dremel and diamond burs.

Very cool, I don't think it would work with these. They are like chalk and turn to powder.

 

[JVA5th]

You say not near water? Could be a midden or what’s left of one, you might look for artifacts around the shells

Yes not near water. I don't know if it'd be a midden site but I suppose possible as California did have native activity all throughout it.

 

[JVA5th]

If these shells are from the San Joaquin Formation they would be Pliocene in age approximately 5.3 to 2.6 million years old.

I'm hoping that is possible. I'm seeing bits stuck in the hard pan the plow brought up from deeper down. Out here it's mostly sand very deep but some areas scattered hard pan not as deep.

 

[augoldminer]

The central valley of Calif was once a inland sea and magladon sharks teeth can be found down near Bakersfield.

 

[bradyboy]

indian shell mound?

 

[JVA5th]

indian shell mound?

Walked around some more didn't find sny evidence of that but who knows