Paleolithic flute

During regular archaeological excavations, several flutes that date to the European Upper Paleolithic were discovered in caves in the Swabian Alb region of Germany.

Dated and tested independently by two laboratories, in England and Germany, the artifacts are authentic products of the Aurignacian archaeological culture.

In addition to recreational and religious purposes, such ritual music might have helped to maintain larger social networks.

The flute is made from a vulture radius bone perforated with five finger holes, and dates to approximately 35,000 years ago.

The team that made the Hohle Fels discovery wrote that these finds were, at the time, the earliest evidence of humans being engaged in musical culture.