and warmth from blowing,longitudinal cracks tended to appear on it and
thus affect the acoustic properties.However,it best corresponded to the
original in terms of natural shape,measurements,and other properties.
The second flute was made from the fresh femur of a contemporary
young brown bear (figure 15.5b).Experiments with it attempted to doc-
ument the acoustic properties of fresh bone and how well such bones
had to be cleaned and “processed”in order to sound.The shape of the
bone matched the original fairly well,although its measurements were
slightly different,since the analogous bone of a modern brown bear is
longer and thinner (less robust) than that of Paleolithic cave bear.
We were best able to approximate the original measurements with
reconstructions from plaster and metal (figures 15.5c and d).We modeled
the flute,made a mold,and cast some specimens from plaster and metal.
With these we were able to test the effect of the cut edge,the length of
the bone,the size and position of individual holes,variation of individ-
ual pitch,and the like.
The basic acoustic question with any instrument is how it produces
sound.Experiments with reconstructions of the flute attempted to
answer this question.Determining the instrument’s possible tuning and
tonal range was initially of secondary importance.It has even been ques-
tioned whether such finds lend themselves to these kinds of determina-
tions.In the literature,too,it is often noted (e.g.,Horusitzky 1995) that
holes in suspected flutes were probably made according to specific pat-
terns and perhaps visual criteria,and that the role of changing pitch
could be of secondary importance.
Similarities of the find to contemporary,mainly folk instruments (wind
instruments) and numerous similar archeological finds that were inter-
preted as flutes led us to the idea that the bone with holes may repre-
sent an aerophone instrument, i.e.,a wind instrument.In such an
instrument,a standing wave in the column of air is stimulated in the
cavity of the pipe.Depending on the way in which this occurs,aero-
phones can be divided into trumpets,reed pipes,and edge instruments
(flutes) according to the classification of Hornbostel and Sachs (1914).
From acoustic and ethnomusicological points of view,the find most
closely corresponds to an edge instrument (flute).It is characteristic of
a trumpet that waves in the air column are stimulated by vibration (oscil-
lation) of the musician’s lips,which rest against the open part of the pipe
(mouthpiece),which can also be specially shaped or adapted.Trumpets
normally have fairly long pipes in which individual overtones can be
formed.With shorter pipes,the sound is for the most part unclear and
weak,similar to that of a modern mouthpiece for a brass instrument.The
bone flute,tested as a trumpet,sounded unclear and weak.The role of
holes in such a method of playing becomes questionable since they have251 New Perspectives on the Beginnings of Music