Which Musical Instrument Is the Oldest?

The oldest confirmed musical instruments are bone flutes discovered in caves in the Swabian Jura region of southern Germany. The most complete, found in Hohle Fels Cave in 2008, is made from the wing bone of a griffon vulture and dates to about 40,000 years ago. It has five finger holes and a V-shaped mouthpiece, and modern replicas produce a range of notes. These flutes were made by early Homo sapiens who had recently arrived in Europe. Earlier finds, such as the Divje Babe "flute" from Slovenia (about 60,000 years old, possibly made by Neanderthals), remain controversial — some scientists argue it is simply a bear bone punctured by carnivore teeth.