Template:POTD/2023-05-01
The Divje Babe flute, also sometimes called the tidldibab or Neanderthal flute, is the femur of a cave bear, which is pierced by spaced holes similar to those found on a flute. The object was unearthed at Divje Babe I, a cave site near Cerkno in northwestern Slovenia in 1995, during systematic archaeological excavations in the area. It is possible that it was made by Neanderthals as a form of musical instrument, although this theory is debated by scientists: some argue that the holes in the bone were artificially made by Neanderthals, while others say they were made by carnivores. If confirmed as a musical instrument, it would be the oldest-known Paleolithic flute and musical instrument. The object is now in the collection of the National Museum of Slovenia in Ljubljana.Photograph credit: Petar Milošević