From prehistoric times, man has used shells for tools. This practice has been born out by archaeological findings in ancient sites and still carries on even today. Food pounders were made from the Giant Clam shell in the South Pacific. Storage containers for such things as perfumes, ointments and medicines were made from some of the larger bivalves and from other shells such as the Nautilus.
Oil lamps made from shells are a frequent find throughout the Middle East.
There are examples of these made from Bear Paw shells and the Spider conch. They work by holding oil while the wick floats on the surface. Shovels plow blades and hoes for tilling the soil were made from hard, sharpened shell pieces. Adze, knife and axe blades were made from shells with sharpened edges. Drills, chisels, scrapers, sanders, etc. were made from various shells such as the Red Helmet shell and were used in such trades as woodworking, farming and tool making.