The Divje Babe flute is a cave bear femur pierced by spaced holes that was found at the Divje Babe archeological park located near Cerkno in northwestern Slovenia. It has been suggested that it was made by Neanderthals, however according to Slovenian archeologist Brodar it was made by Cro-Magnon as an element of Central European Aurignacian. Its hole spacing and alignment suggest it is most probably the world's oldest known musical instrument. Alternative hypotheses notwithstanding, the artifact remains on prominent public display as a flute in the National Museum of Slovenia (Narodni Muzej Slovenije) in Ljubljana. The museum's visitor leaflet maintains that manufacture by Neanderthals "is reliably proven".
Read more about Divje Babe Flute: Site and Similar Findings in Slovenia, "Neanderthal Flute"
Famous quotes containing the words babe and/or flute:
“I have given suck, and know
How tender ‘tis to love the babe that milks me;
I would, while it was smiling in my face,
Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums
And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn
As you have done to this.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“And this mighty master of the organ of language, who knew its every stop and pipe, who could awaken at will the thin silver tones of its slenderest reeds or the solemn cadence of its deepest thunder, who could make it sing like a flute or roar like a cataract, he was born into a country without literature.”
—Willa Cather (1873–1947)