By Katherine Hodge, Project Archaeology Interim Program Lead
It is hard to imagine a world without music. In the modern world, it is rare to be in a place that is truly quiet. Music is always in the background of movies and videos, it is played in public spaces like elevators and stores, it is blasted in workout classes, and many turn it on in the background as they study, read, or just hangout.

Artifact that was once thought to be a flute
There is debate about which artifact holds the title of “oldest musical instrument.” In 1995, archaeologists found the femur bone of a young cave bear with holes in it. The holes

Ancient flute made of bird bone
However, since its discovery in 1995, the artifact has been studied and analyzed by many who are not convinced the holes were made deliberately by humans or human ancestors. There is new research that suggests this artifact is not a Neanderthal-made instrument, but the product of animals. It is now thought that the “flute” is actually just evidence of hyenas scavenging the remains of young cave bears. Scientists believe these young animals had soft bones, soft enough for hyena teeth to easily make clean puncture holes that resemble deliberate, man-made ones. Though no one knows for sure, most experts in the field now see this artifact as scavenged bone, not the world’s

Ancient trumpets from King Tut’s tomb (Photo from classic FM)
Music and instruments can be found in almost all cultures around the world through time. It is a uniquely human form of expression, and science shows that music isn’t just for fun. Playing music can be used as a form of communication, and it can even aid in the development of social relationships.
Sometimes, artifacts are unable to survive in the archaeological record because organic materials break down quickly. Archaeologists also use other types of evidence when studying the history of music and musical instruments, like art. Archaeologists have found some cave art that depicts different types of instruments not found in the archaeological record. Rock art has been observed in Southern Africa that shows images of instruments. Musical instruments can also be difficult to identify when they are found in the archaeological record because they look quite different from the modern conception of instruments.
This series will look at music through time, focusing on instrument types each week. Next Friday, we’ll take a look at percussion around the world.
https://www.nps.gov/articles/musical-instruments-from-ancestral-puebloan-sites.htm
https://www.sapiens.org/archaeology/archaeology-sound-tools/
https://www.nms.si/en/collections/highlights/343-Neanderthal-flute
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-18196349
https://www.oldest.org/music/musical-instruments/
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/bone-flute-is-oldest-instrument–study-says
https://www.sapiens.org/archaeology/southern-africa-instruments/