8,000-Year-Old Music Instrument Made From Bird Bone Provides Glimpse of Neolithic Era

There is no doubt that ancient humans differed significantly from modern humans in several aspects. However, some of these "aspects" shockingly stayed the same across centuries, such as the importance of music. Over multiple generations, experts noted that humans have created instruments to produce music for several purposes and occasions. The National Museum of Iran has in its custody one of the oldest musical instruments ever carved out by humans, as reported by Arkeo News. The musical instrument in question is an 8,000-year-old bone flute, which was unearthed from the Sang-e Chakhmaq mounds, located near Shahrud in Iran, during the 1970s. 

Magnificient Flute

The prehistoric flute was found in Sang-e Chakhmaq, meaning "flint mound," a crucial Neolithic settlement according to experts. It was detected in the eastern mound, implying that ceramics had entered early urban life during the Neolithic Age. Other discoveries along with the flute in the area shed light on how pottery, metallurgy, and agriculture started in the area. These objects helped researchers to paint an accurate picture of how early humans developed from their primitive roots.

Dr. Fereidoun Biglari, the deputy director of the National Museum of Iran, shared that the flute is made out of the bone of a large migratory bird, as reported by Tehran Times. Researchers detected four main finger holes and an additional hole near the end of the instrument. This arrangement is indicative of the excellent craftsmanship displayed by early humans. Based on examinations, experts claimed that stone tools were used to carve the flute. At present, they are focused on analyzing the cutting marks on its surface to learn more about the manufacturing methodology behind this instrument. 

Pursuit of Reconstruction

The features of the flute suggested that the people who made it had a good understanding of acoustics, according to Flute Almanac. Such a well-developed knowledge in prehistoric times was intriguing to researchers. To learn more about the instrument and the makers, the museum has collaborated with a professional musician to reconstruct the object. They will use the same materials that the original artisans possibly applied for this purpose. Their objective is to create the tunes that once buzzed in the ears of the Neolithic population. It could unveil many acoustic secrets, which have lain buried for centuries. 

Importance of Music in Prehistoric Iran

Though the work is underway, researchers are well aware that it might be challenging to exactly replicate the sounds produced by this flute some eight millennia ago. Still, they consider it a crucial artifact due to its supposed role in essential functions, like communal gatherings and ritual ceremonies. Researchers also believe that the instrument may have served as a signaling tool for daily activities. They speculate that music became a tool for communication in early human society, long before written language came into existence. Further examination of instruments like the flute could showcase how humans have developed through the years to reach this level of advancement. Currently, the flute is being exhibited in the Neolithic gallery of the Iran Bastan Museum in Tehran.