During regular archaeological digs, several flutes from the European Upper Paleolithic period were found in caves in the Swabian Alb region of Germany. Scientists in England and Germany tested the flutes separately, confirming they are real artifacts from the Aurignacian archaeological culture. These flutes were made between 43,000 and 35,000 years ago. Crafted from bone and ivory, they are the oldest known musical instruments and offer clear proof that early humans created music.
The flutes were discovered in caves that also contain the oldest examples of figurative art. In Europe, music and sculpture developed at the same time as early humans created art. This region is important because it was a place where many cultural innovations began. In addition to being used for fun or religious activities, this music may have helped early humans build stronger social connections. This could have given them an advantage over the Neanderthals.
Early flutes
In 2006, the Hohle Fels flute was found in the Hohle Fels cave in Germany's Swabian Alb. The flute was made from a vulture bone with five holes drilled in it, and it is about 35,000 years old. Earlier, in nearby Geissenklösterle cave, two flutes made from mute swan bones and one made from woolly mammoth ivory were discovered. The team that found the Hohle Fels flute said these items were the earliest evidence of humans creating music. They believed music might have helped humans form stronger groups, which could have helped the species grow in number and spread to new areas. In 2012, new carbon dating showed the Geissenklösterle flutes are 42,000 to 43,000 years old, making them possibly older than the Hohle Fels flute.
The Divje Babe flute, found in Slovenia in 1995, has also been claimed as the oldest Paleolithic flute. This artifact is a cave bear bone with holes, dated using carbon dating to about 43,100 years old. Later tests using a method called ESR showed the bone layer containing the flute is older than what carbon dating can measure. ESR dating estimates the bone is 50,000 to 60,000 years old. The person who found the Divje Babe flute believed the holes were made by humans and that there may have been four originally before damage occurred. However, other scientists argue the holes were made by an animal's teeth.