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Welcome back to "music, ghost stories. The podcast about music and it's synchronicity in our lives. I'm your host, Dani. Today, we embark on a journey back to the Dawn of music itself. To uncover the story of the world's oldest known musical instrument. And the people who may have created it. Our ancient relatives. The Neanderthals. First. Who were the Neanderthals? Picture rugged, resilient people. Who thrived across Europe and parts of Asia. They were hunters, gatherers, living in tight-knit groups, facing the challenges of a wild world with strength and engine nuity. Our story takes us to a cave and Slovenia. A small country in Europe with lush forests and sizable mountains. In a cave, known as Dave via Bobbie. Archeologists discovered something extraordinary. What appears to be a flute? Made from a bone. But this flute poses a tantalizing mystery. Was it a masterpiece of Neanderthal craftmanship, a deliberate instrument of music. Or was it the result of natural phenomena? Let's take a step back and simplify the question. Did the Neanderthals even require a need for sound? Neanderthals were crafty, and they manufactured tools for the task at hand. But what would be the task that requires sound? Navigation. Is it possible that the sound of this instrument made it easier to listen for acoustical properties inside of a cave? For instance, say there's a small hole that we can't fit inside. of physically. Is it possible that this flute made a sound where we could tell what was on the other side? Is it a small space or is it a wide open space? Maybe like flute, cave, sonar, or something. Communication. It's unknown. If the Neanderthals even had a verbal language. But let's assume they did. Maybe while exploring a cave, yelling or calling out from a distance gets skewed by the reverberated acoustics. Maybe we're unable to understand what is being called out. So could a unique sound such as a flute, be a beacon for "safety" or "danger. So maybe there are reasons why the Neanderthals could use sound as a resource. I'm going to play audio of someone playing sounds using this discovered bone. https://youtu.be/sHy9FOblt7Y It's almost more than just sounds. Canadian musicologist. Bob Fink, concluded that the four holes found on the bone will play notes "consistent to the diatonic scale. Known as the The scale. The tonality is undeniable. The mystery really lies in this source. How has this instrument. made? Well, let's examine the bone in more detail. The holes that are in there were discovered only in the femur of younger cave bears. Compared to adult bones, Cub bones. Would have been more elastic and therefore more likely to puncture as opposed to break. In addition, the holes were predominantly on the thinner side of the bone. Here's what's interesting. The holes in the bone, align with the teeth. on the upper and lower jaw of a hyena skull, which is estimated to be around the same time period. So this dismisses the possibility of the Neanderthals manufacturing, So, what are the odds that an animal bites, another animal to the sound of music? According to multiple musicologists, very slim. I think there's a deeper meaning. To the story. A flute that was discovered. And skepticism as to whether it was intentionally. Manufactured for musical purposes. What I'm thinking is this. Let's just pretend that the hyenas, but these Cubs. And the remnants were left that way. What creates music? That. Or the species. Okay. Let's just say that the Neanderthals were roaming through the woods and they were banging on hollowed out pieces of wood that fell from trees. And calling themselves drummers. They didn't invent the drum. Right. That was nature that provided that. But here's, what's interesting. How did we go from that to the drum. we have today? It's just from customization and modification. And the Neanderthals. I think we're the species that did that. the first that we know of. That would go out, find some resources and make it work for them. So what I'm proposing. Is... what if they did find this bone with the holes in it? And say it just, wasn't what they needed. Exactly. It worked, but I wish it was this. Okay, and this is what brings Bob. Thank the musicologist, his analysis, even more thought provoking. Okay. And his interpretation. Is that the cemetery of the holes? And the pitch of the flute. Is just way too much of a coincidence. As far as music goes. I almost agree. I could see myself saying, oh man, I wish this sounded like this. Finding another bone and say, Hey, who's got that drill thing. And drilling holes until I got it just right. So what if it's both. What if nature provided. And the Neanderthals manufactured. Let's zoom out. Why music though? Why would the Neanderthals make music? Well, the Neanderthals were artists. There have been discoveries of art inside of caves, even utilizing the natural cracks in the stone. to be part of their picture. Maybe this adds to my point. Of the Neanderthals' creativity. And how. It sort of coincides with nature. Music. Wouldn't be just sound; to them though. Even deeper. I think it may have been a way to connect with something greater than themselves. Let's walk in their footsteps for a moment. You're in the heart of a cave. The air is cool. But the fire's warmth embraces you. Outside, the world is fast and untamed. But in here. You're surrounded by your family. And your community. If I could imagine this in one word. It would be "peace. There's something else that ties. The very beginning of music history to this podcast. And that's the Neanderthals connection to spirituality. The inside of the caves share similar acoustical properties to something like that, of a cathedral, which is sort of ironic, right. There's been evidence of burial rituals. Things like grave goods. Items that are left for those that died in case they need them wherever they went. Pollen in the soil beside a Neanderthal skeleton has boosted proposals that they may have buried their dead with flowers. Here's an NPR clip of Barbara King, a retired professor of anthropology. Yes, this was in a cave in Spain and the archaeologists uncovered a grave of a toddler and around the bones of this young child were many examples of animal horns, a rhinoceros So, the archaeologists began to wonder what kind of ceremony might have gone on at such a location. Plus, we have many other examples from sites across Europe and Asia with similarly marked graves that show both intentional burial of Neanderthal bodies and some kind of sacred Symbolism surrounding that burial. Perhaps these graves are marked and even lovingly cared for because Neanderthals felt emotions So, why would our ancient cousins even create music? Perhaps for the same reasons we do today. To express emotion. To feel connected with each other. And the world around us. The Neanderthal flute. Isn't just an artifact. It's a bridge to music's past. A reminder of the shared journey and the timeless language that is music. Is it a coincidence? that the earliest possible musical instrument. might've been crafted by a species, also believed to possess a profound spiritual awareness. [Music Ghost Stories Outro Music Fades In] All right. Thank you for taking this journey with me on "music, ghost stories. As we reflect on the echoes of the Neanderthal melodies, let's appreciate the universal power of music to bring us together. If you enjoyed the episode, drop us five stars. It's the best thing you can do to help us out. And it's free. If you're on Facebook, come to the music, go stories. Facebook group. And let us know what coincidence you've had with music. We want to hear your story. Okay, everyone. Thanks for hanging out. Though this episode's over. Keep listening. 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