• From: Madeira Beach, Florida
  • Registered: 2007-12-05
  • Posts: 3,312

Topic: Russ' first instrument?

Prehistoric flute in Germany is oldest known
By PATRICK McGROARTY, Associated Press Writer Patrick Mcgroarty, Associated Press Writer Wed Jun 24, 3:35 pm ET

BERLIN – A bird-bone flute unearthed in a German cave was carved some 35,000 years ago and is the oldest handcrafted musical instrument yet discovered, archaeologists say, offering the latest evidence that early modern humans in Europe had established a complex and creative culture.

A team led by University of Tuebingen archaeologist Nicholas Conard assembled the flute from 12 pieces of griffon vulture bone scattered in a small plot of the Hohle Fels cave in southern Germany.

Together, the pieces comprise a 8.6-inch (22-centimeter) instrument with five holes and a notched end. Conard said the flute was 35,000 years old.

"It's unambiguously the oldest instrument in the world," Conard told The Associated Press this week. His findings were published online Wednesday by the journal Nature.

Other archaeologists agreed with Conard's assessment.

http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090624/capt.1d38d4f274d64ee7a9c7694ea038c402.germany_prehistoric_flute_mstu104.jpg?x=213&y=146&xc=1&yc=1&wc=409&hc=280&q=85&sig=FLXHPZG1fsW8f0j8d1TGog--

Rule No. 1 - If it sounds good - it is good!
  • From: A black hole in deep space
  • Registered: 2007-10-28
  • Posts: 7,865

Re: Russ' first instrument?

yea I think I played it at a gig lol its an interesting bit of history 35,000 years I wonder how they determined the date, carbon dating? smile

"Growing old is not for sissies"

Russell_Harding's Website

  • From: Belfast
  • Registered: 2009-03-31
  • Posts: 330

Re: Russ' first instrument?

It has Tull written on the side.

"Don't play what's there, play what's not there." Miles Davis

StranSongs's Website