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First traces of musical instruments -

The first traces of art and music of humanity were found in the Swabian Jura, a mountain range in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, during archaeological excavations.

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Hohle Fels flute -

In fact, the oldest known musical instruments have been unearthed in the Swabian Jura, among them the Hohle Fels flute. The 40,000-year-old artifact is carved from vulture bone.

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Divje Babe flute -

The Divje Babe flute is even older. Archaeologists have estimated its age at 43,000 years old. Unearthed at the Divje Babe cave in Slovenia, it's carved out from the femur of a prehistoric cave bear.

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Geisenklösterle flutes -

The Geisenklösterle flutes also rank among the oldest known musical instruments. Made from bird bone and mammoth ivory, these too were found in the Swabian Jura. Scientists used carbon dating to show that the flutes were between 42,000 and 43,000 years old. The caves and ice age art in the Swabian Jura are a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Jiahu flutes -

The Jiahi gudi flutes (gudi means "bone flute" in Chinese) were unearthed from several early Neolithic Jiahu culture tombs in Central China. Estimated to be anywhere between 7,000 and 9,000 years old, they are made from the leg bones of the red-crowned crane.

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Lithophones -

A lithophone is a percussion instrument made of resonant stone. The oldest known examples come from the Central Highlands of Vietnam, and are anywhere between 4,000 and 10,000 years old.

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Bullroarer -

The bullroarer originates from the Paleolithic period, the first examples unearthed in Ukraine having been dated back to 18,000 BCE. Consisting of a carved piece of decorated wood attached to woven twine, which when swung in a large circle produces a roaring vibration sound, this ancient ritual instrument was historically used for communicating over great distances.

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Tutankhamun's trumpets -

Tutankhamun's trumpets are a pair of trumpets found in the burial chamber of Tutankhamun during Howard Carter's celebrated 1922 excavation of the pharaoh's tomb. One is made of sterling silver, the other of bronze or copper.

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Sounded after 3,000 years -

Estimated to be around 3,340 years old, the artifacts are considered to be the oldest operational trumpets in the world, and the only known surviving examples from ancient Egypt. In 1939, the trumpets, silent for over 3,000 years, were played before a live audience, and the performance was broadcast internationally through BBC radio.

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Xun -

The xun is one of the oldest musical instruments from China. An egg-shaped clay sculpture with up to 10 holes on the exterior and a blowing hole on top, an example of this globular flute excavated in Zhejiang was 7,000 years old and is considered the oldest xun artifact.

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Lyres of Ur -

The Lyres of Ur, also known as the Harps of Ur, are the oldest stringed instruments ever found. They were discovered in the Royal Cemetery of Ur, which was once part of ancient Mesopotamia.

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Oldest stringed instruments in the world -

Four lyres were unearthed (the "Golden Lyre of Ur," "Queen's Lyre," "Silver Lyre," and "Bull-Headed Lyre"), each one crafted 4,500 years ago. Pictured is a detail of a mosaic from a royal tomb at Ur, depicting one of the lyres being played.

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Arched harp -

The arched harp, or bow harp, appeared around 3000 BCE in Iran and Mesopotamia, and then in Egypt. From there, the instrument went down the Nile to East Africa and, branching off from this route, also to Central and West Africa.

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Aulos -

The ancient Greek wind instrument known as the aulos was a double flute that appeared around 2450 BCE. The instrument is often depicted in art, such as this aulos player carved out of the Ludovisi Throne.

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Water organ -

In this detail from the Zliten mosaic, a musician can be seen playing a water organ. Water organs were first described in ancient Greek literature and represent some of the first keyboard instruments ever made. The Zliten mosaic, incidentally, is Roman in origin and is found in the town of Zliten, in Libya. Besides a water organ, cornus, or horns, are also seen being played.

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Guzheng -

An early example of a guzheng—a Chinese plucked zither—was described during the Qin dynasty (221–206 BCE). The guzheng remains the most commonly played instrument in China.

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Wooden fish -

An ancient musical instrument again from China, the wooden fish, also known as a Chinese temple block, was introduced as a member of the percussion family during the Zhou dynasty (1046–256 BCE). The instrument is used by monks and lay people in the Mahayana tradition of Buddhism.

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Daf -

Similar to a tambourine but much larger, the daf is a frame drum from the Middle East and South and Central Asia. It's been in use for over 3,000 years. Pictured is Persian woman playing the Daf, from a painting on the walls of the 17th-century Chehel Sotoun pavilion in Isfahan, Iran.

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Mbira -

Mbira are a family of musical instruments, traditional to the Shona people of Zimbabwe. The instruments consist of metal strips, or tines, on a wooden board, usually fitted with a resonator. They are played by holding the instruments in the hands and plucking the tines with the thumb and forefinger. The first mbira appeared around 1,300 years ago.

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Veena -

The veena is a string instrument originating in India. It has played an important role in Hindustani classical music and Carnatic classical music for centuries. The instrument is mentioned in Sanskrit text as early as 200 BCE. Pictured is a southern style Saraswati veena.

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Shofar -

An ancient musical horn typically made of a ram's horn, the shofar is specifically used for Jewish religious purposes. The instrument is mentioned frequently in the Hebrew Bible, the Talmud, and rabbinic literature.

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Impressive sound -

While a ram's horn is most often used, a shofar can also be crafted from the far more impressive horn of the greater kudu.

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Koto -

The previously mentioned guzheng is ancestral to several other Asian zithers, including the Japanese koto. It was first introduced to Japan from China in the early 7th century and today is the national musical instrument of Japan.

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Didgeridoo -

Synonymous with aboriginal Australians, the didgeridoo first appeared around 1,500 years ago. This estimate is based on the dating of rock art paintings, in particular a clear rock painting in Ginga Wardelirrhmeng that shows a didgeridoo player and two song-men participating in an Ubarr ceremony.

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Clapstick -

Another traditional Australian Aboriginal instrument is the clapstick. A clapstick is a type of drumstick, or percussion mallet. The instruments serve to maintain rhythm in voice chants, often as part of an Aboriginal ceremony and usually to the sound of a didgeridoo.

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Sámi drum -

The Sámi people of Northern Europe kept in time with music by beating a Sámi drum. These shamanic ceremonial drums have been in use since the Middle Ages. The drumhead is fashioned from reindeer hide, over which Sámi shaman draw their own unique design.

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Violon -

Italian craftsman Andrea Amati is credited with making the first instruments of the violin family that are in the form we use today. This includes the oldest surviving example of a violin found anywhere, the Charles IX, made in 1564.

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Vihuela -

The oldest surviving guitar in the world is generally credited to Portuguese luthier Belchior Diaz. He made a vihuela, a fretted plucked Spanish string instrument, in 1590. It's on display at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Arizona.

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Fortepiano -

The oldest surviving piano in the world is a 1720 fortepiano made by Bartolomeo Cristofori, who in fact invented the instrument. This rare example is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. 

Sources: (National Geographic) (BBC) (Classic FM)

See also: The world in tune: national musical instruments

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