Early music makers

One of the earliest instruments that experts have identified is the bullroarer. It was a piece of bone with a hole in one end where a long piece of hide was attached.

The bullroarer was “played” by whirling it overhead. Music experts think the noise of the bullroarer was intended to scare off enemies or evil spirits. Prehistoric wind instruments, such as

whistles, were probably used in hunting and in war. These whistles might have been made from the bones of birds, from shells or horns, or from a phalanx (FAY-lanks), or a finger or toe bone from an animal.

People made some wind instruments from bird bones, which are hollow. Those made from bone or horn had to be hollowed out.

Prehistoric instruments from France. The bullroarer (upper right) is made with reindeer antler and was found in Lalinde, Dordogne.