How to Make Prehistoric Instruments

Music is a universal cultural component. Once the basic needs of food, clothing and shelter were met, people turned their attention to making instruments. The oldest confirmed instrument -- made from vulture-wing bones -- dates back at least 36,000 years. Although it is difficult to know exactly how long they have been around, because they are bio-degradable, drums are a musical instruments that date back to prehistoric times. Other prehistoric instruments include wooden sticks and shakers. Making a collection of prehistoric instruments is a project that can involve further research into how long people have been making music.

Things You'll Need

  • Flint
  • Gourd
  • Seeds or small pebbles
  • Needle
  • Thread
  • Hammer
  • Chisel
  • Leather hide
  • Sheep's horn
  • Drill
  • Piece of bone
  • Leather thongs
  • Wood pieces
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Get some pieces of flint. When chipped together, they produce a clinking sound. Keep trying different sizes of flint until you find a sound that you like. Note that your instrument may be short-lived because the flint will flake away the more you strike it.

    • 2

      Hollow out a gourd -- a pumpkin or a squash will do -- and let it dry. Add dried seeds or small pebbles. Stitch the opening closed -- if you are a purist, use sinew -- and you have a basic rattle.

    • 3

      Hollow out a log for a drum frame, using a hammer and chisel. Keep working until about an inch of wood is left. Soak a leather hide or an animal skin over the log and tightly secure it with sinew, a drum ring or cord. As the skin dries, it shrinks and gets tighter, thus producing the hollow sound.

    • 4

      Clean out a sheep's horn and drill a hole in the end. Practice pursing your mouth in different positions and see how many sounds you can create with this prehistoric horn.

    • 5

      Make a bull-roarer. Drill a hole in a piece of bone, thread a leather thong through it and tie a knot in the end. Wave the bull-roarer over your head as fast as you can and dance to the whirling sound it produces.

    • 6

      Cut various lengths of wood and attach them on a frame with rawhide. Use the drumsticks, and you have an early version of a glockenspiel.

Learnify Hub © www.0685.com All Rights Reserved