A Middle Palaeolithic origin of music? Using cave-bear bone accumulations to assess the Divje Babe I bone ‘flute’

The discovery of a perforated cave-bear femur from the Neanderthal levels at Divje Babe has been interpreted as the oldest musical instrument in Europe. Here we present the current discussion on the ‘flute’ and its implications for other similar bone finds from early prehistory.

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Antiquity 1998-03, Vol.72 (275), p.65-79
Main Authors: D'Errico, Francesco, Villa, Paola, Llona, Ana C. Pinto, Idarraga, Rosa Ruiz
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Antiquities
Archaeology
Bones
Cave dwellers
Europe
Flute
Flutes
History of music
Lower and middle palaeolithic
Music
Musical instruments
Musical instruments, Primitive
Neanderthals
Palaeolithic and mesolithic
Prehistoric tools
Prehistory
Prehistory and protohistory
Slovenia
South East Europe
Tools, Prehistoric
Traditional musical instruments
Wind instruments
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Description
Summary:The discovery of a perforated cave-bear femur from the Neanderthal levels at Divje Babe has been interpreted as the oldest musical instrument in Europe. Here we present the current discussion on the ‘flute’ and its implications for other similar bone finds from early prehistory.
ISSN:0003-598X
1745-1744
DOI:10.1017/S0003598X00086282