Which instrument is considered one of the oldest known musical instruments?

Flutes are among the oldest known musical instruments, and archaeological finds show that people were making music with them tens of thousands of years ago. Bone and ivory flutes discovered in parts of Europe have been dated to about 40,000 years old. These instruments suggest that music played an important role in early human culture. Because instruments made from wood and other perishable materials rarely survive, the true origin of music is probably even older.