Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Where was the earliest known Western flute discovered?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
wind instrument
The Japanese end-blown flute, or shakuhachi.
The earliest known example of a Western flute was discovered in 2008 at the Hohle Fels cave near Ulm, Germany.
This instrument, which is crafted from the bone of a griffin vulture and features five finger holes, is estimated to be at least 35,000 years old.123