Which prehistoric musical instruments have archaeologists discovered?

Archaeologists have discovered several types of prehistoric musical instruments, primarily dating to the Paleolithic Period. Among the most significant finds are partial bone or ivory flutes, including a specimen with five finger holes discovered at Hohle Fels Cave in Germany, which dates back approximately 35,000 years.1

In addition to these flutes, archaeological evidence from the Paleolithic Period includes various pipes and whistles. As human development progressed into the Neolithic Period, the archaeological record expands to include other instruments such as clay drums and shell trumpets.2

While these findings provide concrete evidence of early musical expression, there is little to no archaeological evidence for prehistoric chordophones (stringed instruments), as the oldest surviving specimens and iconographic records of such instruments originate from later civilizations in Mesopotamia and Egypt.3