A New Interpretation of “Conical Hat–Shaped” Ornaments: Use, Transmission, and Imitation of Cone Shell Objects

ZENG Yongjia

Small artifacts resembling “conical hats” have been excavated from several prominent archaeological sites in China, including Shimao, Shijiahe, Erlitou, and Sanxingdui. Prior research has not definitively determined the specific function and purpose of these objects. Based on morphological characteristics and typological comparison, it is suggested that their prototype may originate from the apex of the shell of the marine cone snail (Conus geographus). As this species is predominantly found in tropical marine regions extending from Southeast Asia and South Asia to the eastern coast of Africa, regions distant from inland China, it is probable that ancient inland populations replicated its form using locally accessible materials such as jade, white pottery, and bronze. Based on contextual evidence from related discoveries at the Erlitou site, these objects likely served as personal ornaments and may have carried symbolic significance related to social status, potentially worn exclusively by individuals of relatively high rank. Archaeological evidence indicates that cone-shell ornaments have a long history of use in prehistoric societies, with examples dating to approximately 20,000 to 70,000 years ago in eastern Africa. Similar shell ornaments have also been discovered at the Dabenkeng culture sites in prehistoric Taiwan and at late Neolithic to Bronze Age sites in Thailand and the Philippines. These discoveries suggest that the cultural practice of using cone-shell-shaped ornaments may have originated in coastal regions and spread inland through long-distance exchange and cultural interaction. Such artifacts, therefore, provide valuable evidence for understanding the circulation of marine-derived symbolic objects and the transmission of cultural traditions across different regions.