Conch Shell Trumpet Effigy

Date

300 BCE-250 CE

Creator

This is a ceramic replica of a conch shell trumpet. Conch shells were played by many cultures throughout Mesoamerica. The conch shell forms a natural horn, the cut end serving as the mouthpiece. Musicians would insert their hands into the shell in order to alter the pitch. The conch had a direct affiliation with the sea and wind. Wind deities, such as Ehecatl-Quetzalcoatl, would wear a cut conch shell around their necks. Because of its association with wind, the conch was often used in ceremonies to call the rain-bringing winds. Conch shells were also affiliated with hunting and the god of the hunt, Huk Sip, who is often shown with a conch shell.