- Did Neanderthals have flutes?
- What was the Neanderthal flute made of?
- What was the bone flute used for?
- Where is the divje Babe flute?
Did Neanderthals have flutes?
The oldest musical instrument in the world, a 60,000-year-old Neanderthal flute is a treasure of global significance. It was discovered in Divje babe cave near Cerkno and has been declared by experts to have been made by Neanderthals. It is made from the left thighbone of a young cave bear and has four pierced holes.
What was the Neanderthal flute made of?
It's carved from the bone of a cave bear – and it sounds hauntingly beautiful. Archaeologists have found a pre-historic instrument carved from cave bear bones, and it can still be played today.
What was the bone flute used for?
They are the oldest musical instruments ever discovered in China. The first bone flutes may have been used by hunters to mimic a bird's cry. Later, they may have provided music for celebrating a successful hunt.
Where is the divje Babe flute?
Divje Babe flute | |
---|---|
Material | Bone |
Created | Late Pleistocene (43100 ± 700 BP) |
Discovered | 1995 near Cerkno, Slovenia |
Present location | National Museum of Slovenia, Ljubljana |