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