playing it,all of which decisively influence its tonal possibilities.Even if
we were to know all this (as we assumed with our reconstructions),the
pitch is so changed by the method of producing sound,changes to the
embouchure,and strength of blowing that we can obtain an almost con-
tinuous tonal spectrum in a wide range of frequencies and produce tones
of almost arbitrary pitch.If we attempt to reconstruct the sound possi-
bilities of an instrument merely from external measurements of the only
archeological find of this type from this period,and on this basis further
define the aesthetic standards of the population that used it,we can easily
reach mistaken conclusions and results.^10
This chapter attempted to clarify at least partially the meaning and
acoustic properties of the archeological find of a bone with holes and
show its possible ethnomusicological significance.The find can be ex-
plained as a sound or signal aid,perhaps even as a musical instrument
with specific expressive power.Of course,it opens a large number of
additional questions and it is not possible for the moment to answer all
of them.Perhaps future finds of the same age will assist in answering
these questions.264 Drago Kunej and Ivan Turk
Figure 15.16
Tones obtained from a metal reconstruction of the bone flute with various combinations
of closed and open holes.The flute is played at the proximal part of the bone as a rim-
blown flute.Fig.15.16