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Date: | Mon, 23 Aug 1999 00:30:04 EDT |
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In a message dated 8/3/1999 9:25:16 PM US Mountain Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
<<
We found several conch shells in two old cemeteries of German
immigrants,
ca. 1850-1900. Could you possibly tell me the symbolism involved? The
cemeteries are located in St. Charles County, MO a great distance from
the
ocean for immigrants in the middle to late 1800's. Not easily supplied
I
would think. We found four conchs in all, very old!!
Dick Schroeder and Phyllis Gumm
>>-------------------------------------
I don't know what culture originated the use of conchs but...
while I was visiting in the Bahamas I noted they would use conch shells in
much of their decorating. It was in the masontry of their buildings (walls)
also. My guess is that since it is a mainstay in the Bahamian diet, the
empty shells become cumbersome and have to be used for something. [there
isn't much space to dump stuff on islands or a great deal of building tools.]
Any way I noted that there were chonch shells in their cemetaries as well.
But I don't know it there was a symbolic reason for it.
April
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