Archaeologists have played shell trumpets from Neolithic Catalonia, revealing they were highly effective for long-distance communication and possibly among the earliest musical instruments in Europe. The groundbreaking acoustic study demonstrates that these modified conch shells could produce sounds reaching over 111 decibels, comparable to a jet engine at close range, making them powerful signaling devices for communities living 6,000 years ago.
The research, published in the journal Antiquity by archaeologist and professional trumpet player Miquel López-García and his colleague Margarita Díaz-Andreu from the University of Barcelona, examined 12 large shell trumpets recovered from Neolithic settlements and mines across Catalonia in northeastern Spain. These instruments, crafted from Charonia lampas (pink lady) sea snails, date to between the late fifth and early fourth millennia BC, making them among the oldest known sound-producing instruments in the Iberian Peninsula. The Guardian reports that López-García's childhood fascination with his family's conch shell, used to warn villagers of floods in southern Spain, uniquely prepared him for this remarkable study.
- Ancient Chacoan Settlements Used Conch-Shell Trumpets
- 17,000-Year-Old Musical Instrument Is "Discovered" By Archaeologists
Photographs of some of the Neolithic shell trumpets from Catalonia that still produce sound today. (López-García et al. /Antiquity Publications Ltd)
Neolithic Communication Network
Six of the twelve shells were discovered in the extraordinary variscite mines of Can Tintorer in Gavà, near Barcelona, where Neolithic communities excavated the green mineral for ornamental beads that were traded across vast distances. The remaining shells came from settlements including Mas d'en Boixos, Cal Pere Pastor, Cova de l'Or, and Espalter 1. The shells' discovery in both mining galleries and domestic settlements suggests they played a crucial role in coordinating activities across the landscape, enabling workers in tunnels to communicate with surface teams or allowing farmers to signal between distant fields and villages.
According to the study authors, the fact that the shells had been collected after the sea snails within them had died indicates they were gathered specifically for non-culinary purposes. The deliberate removal of each shell's pointed tip—the apex—converted these natural objects into functional trumpets. This modification created an opening where the player could position their lips to produce sound through vibration, similar to modern brass instruments.
- Ancient Acoustic Artifacts and Communication with the Gods
- Primeval Communication and the Beat of the Drum
Testing Ancient Sound Technology
Of the twelve shells, eight retained the ability to produce sound, allowing López-García to conduct detailed acoustic experiments under strict museum supervision. Using professional sound-level meters, the team measured the volume, pitch, and harmonic qualities of each instrument. Seven of the eight playable trumpets produced sounds exceeding 100 decibels at one meter from the source, with the loudest reaching 111.5 decibels. For comparison, this volume level is similar to a chainsaw or rock concert, demonstrating these instruments' effectiveness for long-distance signaling.
The acoustic analysis revealed that the shells functioned like natural brass instruments, with their spiral structure creating a harmonic series similar to modern French horns. López-García discovered he could produce multiple notes from the best-preserved specimens by adjusting his lip pressure and using techniques like hand-stopping—placing his hand inside the shell's opening to modify the tone. "It's quite amazing that you get that very recognizable tone from a simple instrument that is just a very slightly modified animal body," López-García told reporters. "I think the closest instrument today in terms of tone is the French horn."
Miquel López Garcia and Margarita Díaz-Andreu with one of the shell horns. (University of Barcelona)
Musical Expression or Practical Tools?
While the shells' primary function likely involved signaling for practical purposes, the research suggests they possessed significant musical potential as well. The best-preserved specimens could produce up to three stable notes—the fundamental tone, an octave above, and an octave-plus-fifth—providing enough range for melodic expression. The shells' responsiveness to dynamic variation and articulation techniques indicates that skilled players could create complex, expressive sound patterns beyond simple warning signals.
Some shells bore mysterious holes in their walls, raising questions about whether these openings served as tone holes for changing pitch, suspension points for carrying the instruments, or were simply natural erosions. López-García's testing revealed that the holes actually reduced sound quality and volume, losing up to 7.6 decibels in one specimen. This finding suggests the perforations were most likely natural rather than intentional modifications, though their true purpose remains debated among researchers.
The discovery connects to an even older tradition of shell trumpet use in Europe. The oldest known example, found in Marsoulas Cave in southern France, dates to approximately 18,000 BC - making the Catalan shells part of a sound technology that persisted for millennia. López-García noted his own family's use of a conch shell for flood warnings in 20th-century Spain, demonstrating this ancient technology's remarkable longevity. "You've had almost identical instruments being used from 18,000 years ago, right through until the middle of the last century," he observed.
Miquel López Garcia playing one of the shells. (López-García et al. /Antiquity Publications Ltd)
Origins of Human Musical Expression
The study raises profound questions about the relationship between practical necessity and artistic expression in early human societies. López-García reflected on whether music originated from survival needs or from deeper emotional and social requirements. "The whole debate about to what extent music is a utilitarian matter and to what extent it's an aesthetic, expressive, emotional, much more personal matter, has always really fascinated me," he explained. The shell trumpets represent a unique intersection where functional communication tools possessed the acoustic capabilities for genuine musical performance.
The concentration of these instruments in a relatively small region of Catalonia, with sites like Mas d'en Boixos and Cal Pere Pastor located less than five kilometers apart, suggests a densely populated area where sound-based communication would have been particularly valuable. The instruments may have coordinated agricultural activities, warned of dangers, announced arrivals, or marked ceremonial occasions. Their presence in burial contexts and mining galleries indicates they held significance beyond mere utility, possibly playing roles in ritual or social hierarchy.
The research demonstrates that Neolithic societies in Catalonia possessed sophisticated understanding of acoustics and sound technology. These communities intentionally selected medium-sized shells, removed their tips at precise angles to create optimal openings, and developed techniques for producing controlled, powerful sounds. The shells' acoustic performance required no complex manufacturing beyond the apex removal, yet they achieved sound levels comparable to much later technological innovations. This elegance of design—maximum effect from minimum modification—characterizes some of humanity's most enduring inventions.
Top image: Shell trumpet from Neolithic Catalonia showing modification for sound production. Source: López-García et al. /Antiquity Publications Ltd.
By Gary Manners
References
Díaz-Andreu, M. & López-García, M. 2025. Signalling and music-making: interpreting the Neolithic shell trumpets of Catalonia (Spain). Available at: https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2025.10220
Petter, O. 2025. Shells found in Spain could be among oldest known musical instruments. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/dec/02/neolithic-conch-like-shell-spain-catalonia-discovery-musical-instruments
Stamp, J. 2025. Neolithic Shell Trumpets from Spain Studied. Available at: https://archaeology.org/news/2025/12/04/neolithic-shell-trumpets-from-spain-studied/
