This is the eerie sound of a Neanderthal flute

The National Museum of Slovenia houses the oldest musical instrument in the world – a small flute gifted by Neanderthals about 50,000 years ago.

This unique tool, which is not No typical flute nor whistleat the archaeological site Devji Babenear the remains of an ancient Neanderthal bonfire, in 1995.

carved from The femur of a small bear From the caves, the tool shows evidence of Three finely drilled holes and a sharp horn edge, which makes the content creator a skilled user of the tool.

According to researchers from Divji Pepe Archaeological ParkThe design and choice of the bone chosen, the left femur, indicates a deliberate intention, evidently not random, to create an instrument ergonomically adapted to a left-handed musician.

instrument at least 10,000 years older and more efficient Of the other Paleolithic flutes known in Europe, they were usually made from bird bones by early modern humans.

Unlike other ancient instruments, the Divje Babe flute has a distinctive sound, Sharp and icy coldas you can hear in the video above, which features the Slovenian musician Lubin Demkarowski He recreated the sound of the flute in contemporary music.

Despite being tens of thousands of years old, the instrument was capable of producing clear sounds. “The instrument’s notes correspond to diatonic elements, still used today”, Explain world of music Bob Fink.

Divje Babe’s flute is primary evidence that Neanderthals were just like us Spiritually developed humansand capable of creating works of art – including music that is as sophisticated as it is sublime.