Predates Band Camp By Thousands of years

The New York Times reported that a flute, at least 35,000 years old, was found in a cave in southwest Germany. The flute was created around the same time as the earliest known sculptures—an indication that the two art forms may have evolved simultaneously. This particular bone flute, archaeologists say, is the most complete they have found, possessing five finger holes. Along with other specimens, this flute suggests music may have been a widespread element of human culture around that time period. Until now, examples of instruments had been too scarce to confirm any suspicion on the matter. The Times speculates about the role of the flute—and music itself at the time—citing German archaeologists who said music “could have contributed to the maintenance of larger social networks, and thereby perhaps have helped facilitate the demographic and territorial expansion of modern humans.” Read the article at nytimes.com.