When Was the First Flute Made?

Flutes were independently developed in cultures all over the world, including China, Greece, India and South America. Some early flutes were made of cane and clay, as well as other materials that have not survived. The earliest flutes were found in Germany and date to prehistoric times.

Prehistoric

The earliest flutes were made of bones or tusks, and have been found in many different civilizations around the world. A flute made of swan bone was found in Germany that dates to around 36,000 years ago. A flute made of a mammoth tusk was also found in Germany, and dates to a similar time frame.

China

Very early flutes have been found in China. A flute made of crane bone was found that dates to 7000 B.C., and a flute made of lacquered bamboo was found that dates to 433 B.C. The lacquered bamboo flute that was found is the earliest known transverse flute (a flute held horizontally to the side, like modern flutes).

India

Bamboo flutes were also developed independently in India, and are used in Indian classical music. The Indian flute is called the Bansuri, and has no keys, only finger holes.

Europe

Pan flutes have been used in Greece since 700 B.C. The earliest paintings of a tranverse flute are from Byzantium and date to the tenth century. Many fourteenth century pictures and manuscripts show soldiers and angels playing flutes.

America

Early Native American flutes were made from cane and wood. Some have been found that date to 625 A.D. Bone flutes and whistles have also been found. A myth about the flute's creation says that people heard the sounds of wind blowing across the holes that woodpeckers pecked in trees. But it is more likely that the Native American flute evolved from Mesoamerican designs. Early Mesoamerican flutes were made of clay or river cane, so very few have survived.