News Archaeology

Humans made a horn out of a conch shell about 18,000 years ago

Fitted with a modern mouthpiece, it plays the notes C, C sharp and D

ancient seashell

A seashell found 90 years ago at the entry to a French cave displaying ancient wall paintings was made into a horn that could play musical notes around 18,000 years ago, researchers say.

C. Fritz, Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle de Toulouse

By Bruce Bower

- More than 2 years ago

Ancient Europeans made a horn out of a large seashell and blew musical notes out of it roughly 18,000 years ago, a new study suggests.