The celebrated bone flutes of Jiahu, carved from the wing bones of red-crowned cranes, dating to approximately 7000 BCE. These are the oldest known playabl
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The celebrated bone flutes of Jiahu, carved from the wing bones of red-crowned cranes, dating to approximately 7000 BCE. These are the oldest known playable musical instruments in the world, with some featuring five to eight tone holes that produce a remarkably accurate musical scale, challenging assumptions about Neolithic cultural sophistication.
This archaeological photograph documents important features of ancient sites and artifacts. Captured by Brookhaven National Laboratory, this image provides visual evidence relevant to ongoing archaeological research and theoretical debates. Browse related photographs, explore the connected archaeological sites, and learn about the theories this image relates to in our comprehensive gallery collection.