Ancient shell horn can still play a tune after 18,000 years
By CHRISTINA LARSON
yesterday
WASHINGTON (AP) — A large conch shell overlooked in a museum for decades is now thought to be the oldest known seashell instrument — and it still works, producing a deep, plaintive bleat, like a foghorn from the distant past.
The shell was found during the 1931 excavation of a cave with prehistoric wall paintings in the French Pyrenees and assumed to be a ceremonial drinking cup. Archaeologists from the University of Toulouse recently took a fresh look and determined it had been modified thousands of years ago to serve as a wind instrument. They invited a French horn player to play it.
“Hearing it for the first time, for me it was a big emotion — and a big stress,” said archaeologist Carole Fritz.
She feared that playing the 12-inch (31-centimeter) shell might damage it, but it didn’t. The horn produced clear C, C sharp and D notes.
More:
https://apnews.com/article/18000-year-old-shell-horn-still-works-58e6d61aa9773d2c672854325d884230
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Wed 10 Feb 2021 22.21 ESTLast modified on Wed 10 Feb 2021 23.18 EST
After laying silent for more than 17,000 years, an ancient instrument Is heard again – a deep, plaintive bleat, like a foghorn from the distant past. When archaeologists realised that a large conch shell discovered in the Marsoulas cave in the Pyrenees had been modified thousands of years ago to serve as a wind instrument, they invited a French horn player to play the conch in a sound studio. The horn produced clear C, C-sharp, and D notes.
Short video at link:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2021/feb/11/listen-as-a-17000-year-old-conch-shell-is-played-once-more-video
(Maybe we should check back later, when she can play that conch shell better! Maybe the speaker can brush up on his English, too!)
