Blasinstrumente aus dem europäischen Jungpaläolithikum. Fundmaterial, Interpretation und musikwissenschaftliche Aspekte

This study deals with a class of archaeological finds from the European Upper Palaeolithic that are usually referred to as potential flutes. In this paper, these artifacts are divided typologically into phalangeal whistles, perforated bones, single flutes without finger holes, panpipes, and intentionally manufactured aerophones. In addition to instruments in which the sound is generated by breaking the air flow at a cutting edge, reeds and sound-distorting mirlitons are also discussed in this paper. Experiments using replica instruments provide further arguments on the question of flute- or reed-blowing. The first unquestionably human-made aerophones uncovered by archaeology brought in changes in language and a flourishing of the visual arts. Music is not just an entertaining minor matter, but an important socio-cultural driving force that is able to unite different humans.