12,000-year-old flutes discovered in northern Israel

New research has revealed that approximately 12,000 years ago, humans in northern Israel transformed the bones of small birds into musical instruments that imitated the songs of specific avian species.

12,000-year-old flutes discovered in northern IsraelCredit: Davin et al., 2023

Unearthed at the Eynan (Ain Mallaha) archaeological site, which has been under excavation by a Franco-Israeli team since 1955, seven miniature flutes crafted from the wing bones of prehistoric birds shed light on a forgotten chapter in human musical heritage.

The archaeologists were particularly fascinated by the size of these instruments, as outlined in their study published in the Nature Science Report journal.

The flutes, with a length of 63.4 mm and a diameter of approximately 4 mm, provide valuable insights into the musical practices of the Late Natufian culture.

12,000-year-old flutes discovered in northern IsraelCredit: Davin et al., Scientific Reports.

According to the researchers, the small flutes likely served various purposes such as creating music, attracting birds, or facilitating communication over short distances.

To explore this further, the research team made replicas of the fragile original flutes and discovered that they emitted high-pitched trills resembling the calls of birds of prey.

Due to their size, these flutes produced a high-pitched sound, which experts believe imitated the vocalizations of ancient birds of prey in the region.

Playing the flute would have required training and manual dexterity due to its small dimensions. Additionally, the closely spaced holes on the flute would have demanded a certain level of agility to master the instrument.

The Natufian culture, which existed in the Levant region approximately 15,000 to 11,700 years ago, played a significant role in the transition from Paleolithic hunter-gatherer societies to fully developed agricultural economies during the Neolithic era.

Forensic anthropologist Tal Simmons from Virginia Commonwealth University, who identified the bird species used, explained that this period marked the emergence of settled communities engaged in farming and animal domestication.

The recently discovered instruments, dating back 12,000 years, are exceedingly rare, as there is limited knowledge about musical practices during the Neolithic period.

This new finding adds to our understanding of the evolution of music, uncovering a previously unexplored category of sound-producing instruments that were present in the acoustic environment of the Paleolithic era, capable of producing artificial sounds resembling those found in nature.

More information: Davin et al. 2023. Bone aerophones from Eynan-Mallaha (Israel) indicate imitation of raptor calls by the last hunter-gatherers in the Levant. Sci Rep 13, 8709; doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-35700-9

Related Posts

Neanderthal genes linked to rare brain-skull disorder, study finds

Neanderthal genes linked to rare brain-skull disorder, study finds

A recent study shows that Neanderthal DNA from ancient times can cause a neurological condition known as Chiari Malformation Type I (CM-I), where a part of the…

Lavish Roman villa with rare fish pond and frescoes unearthed in ancient Tripolis, Turkey

Lavish Roman villa with rare fish pond and frescoes unearthed in ancient Tripolis, Turkey

Archaeologists have unearthed a stunningly well-preserved Roman villa in the city of Tripolis near Denizli in western Turkey. The discovery includes rich frescoes and a rare decorative…

Rare trilobite fossil amulet unearthed at Roman site in Spain reveals unique ancient beliefs

Rare trilobite fossil amulet unearthed at Roman site in Spain reveals unique ancient beliefs

Archaeologists working at the Roman site of A Cibdá de Armea in northwestern Spain, Galicia, have uncovered an unexpected discovery: a 450-million-year-old fossilized trilobite that was intentionally…

Ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs reemerge on Oahu’s shores after years of being hidden

Ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs reemerge on Oahu’s shores after years of being hidden

An amazing panel of ancient petroglyphs along the coast of Oahu, Hawaii, has again been revealed by the seasonal receding of ocean sands. Etched into sandstone on…

Mongolian Buddhist shrine scrolls virtually unrolled in Berlin reveal hidden Sanskrit mantra

Mongolian Buddhist shrine scrolls virtually unrolled in Berlin reveal hidden Sanskrit mantra

A Buddhist scroll hidden for decades within a Mongolian Gungervaa shrine has been virtually unrolled by researchers in Berlin through the use of advanced X-ray tomography, revealing…

Decapitation of a child 850,000 years ago reveals new evidence of cannibalism at Atapuerca

Decapitation of a child 850,000 years ago reveals new evidence of cannibalism at Atapuerca

A newly discovered human cervical vertebra from the Gran Dolina site in the Sierra de Atapuerca in Spain, which dates to 850,000 years ago, has provided new…