Ancient Flute

Creating musical instruments

This flute is one of the world’s oldest manufactured musical instruments. Two pieces of carved and hollowed-out mammoth ivory were joined together and sealed. The flute had at least three finger holes and played a five-note scale.

Exhibit Item
Site: Geissenklösterle Cave, Germany
Year of Discovery:
Discovered by: Nicholas J. Conard
Age: About 35,000 years old
No Scan
Mammoth ivory flute (cast) from Geissenklosterle Cave, Germany.