Ancient Flute
“This flute is one of the world’s oldest manufactured musical instruments. Two pieces of carved and hollowed-out mammoth ivory were joined together and sealed. The flute had at least three finger holes and played a five-note scale.”
Ancient Flute
Exhibit Item at Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Date of discovery: 2004
Discovered by: Nicholas J. Conard
Site: Geissenklösterle Cave, Germany
Contemporary Technology: Flute
Flutes today, in their essence, are the same as those ancient bone flutes. Both are meant to make music. The purpose of the music being made is speculation for a different time, however music is made all the same. The differences come with the construction of the instruments. Obviously, the bone flutes are made of bone, while they are today made of metal.
Check out the video below to get an idea of what the bone flute would have sounded like!
