World's oldest musical instrument found
A 35,000-year-old flute has been discovered in Germany which experts say it the world's oldest musical instrument.The bone flute was found in a cave in the Ach valley in south-west Germany, where early modern humans are understood to have settled after leaving Africa.
It is made out of bone of a griffon vultur - a species which had an impressive wingspan of 265cm - the flute is 21.8cm long, has five finger holes and manufacturer carved two deep, V-shaped notches in one end to form the blow.
The team from Tubingen University say that this shows music was widespread in pre-historic times ... now Germans just have David Hasselhoff.
The flute was discovered along with two small fragments of two ivory flutes, all of the items were then carbon dated.
The scientists said: ""The presence of music in the lives of early Upper Palaeolithic peoples did not directly produce a more effective subsistence economy and greater reproductive fitness.
"Viewed, however, in a broader behavioural context, early Upper Palaeolithic music could have contributed to the maintenance of larger social networks.
LINKS
Tubingen University
The scientists said: ""The presence of music in the lives of early Upper Palaeolithic peoples did not directly produce a more effective subsistence economy and greater reproductive fitness.
"Viewed, however, in a broader behavioural context, early Upper Palaeolithic music could have contributed to the maintenance of larger social networks.
LINKS
Tubingen University
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