The Divje Babe Flute
In a Slovenian cave, archaeologists found a cave bear bone with holes in a row. Some say it is the oldest musical instrument in the world, made by Neanderthals.
What was reported
In 1995, archaeologist Ivan Turk, excavating the Divje Babe cave in western Slovenia, found a piece of a young cave bear's thigh bone with two complete holes and traces of others in a line, in a layer dating to roughly 50,000 years ago, when Neanderthals lived in the area.
Turk argued it was a flute, which would make it the oldest known musical instrument, and the first made by Neanderthals. Musicians have played replicas of it.
Explanations offered
Other researchers argue the holes were made by a carnivore, such as a hyena, biting the bone, since similar punctures are seen on bones chewed by animals. The debate continues. The oldest undisputed flutes, made from bird bone and ivory by modern humans in Germany, are about 40,000 years old.
- When
- About 50,000 years old; found in 1995
- Where
- Divje Babe cave, near Cerkno, Slovenia
- Witnesses
- Archaeologists
- Status
- Disputed
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