Earliest Humans Played Flute 35,000 Years Ago

It was found in same caves as fertility statue

By Ambreen Ali, Newser User

Posted Jun 24, 2009 5:23 PM CDT

(Newser) – A vulture-bone flute found in a cave in southwest Germany proves that homo sapiens have been rocking out for at least 35,000 years, archaeologists say. It’s the most complete musical instrument found in a region full of relics like busty carvings and ivory flutes, the New York Times reports. Early humans were just spreading throughout Europe at the time.

The 8½-inch flute has five finger holes carefully carved into the bone and is thought to produce harmonic sounds comparable to modern notes. “These finds demonstrate the presence of a well-established musical tradition at the time when modern humans colonized Europe,” researchers wrote in the journal Nature.

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

Professor Nicholas Conard of the University of Tubingen displays the flute made of vulture bone. (AP Photo)

The flute is the oldest musical instrument ever found. (AP Photo/Daniel Maurer)

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These finds demonstrate the presence of a well-established musical tradition at the time when modern humans colonized Europe.
- Nicholas J. Conard, University
of Tübingen, Germany

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Earliest Humans Played Flute 35,000 Years Ago