Natural Lithophone
Musical instrument
Upper Palaeolithic
Around 30 000 years
For some time now, the existence of percussion traces on curtains and stalagmites had suggested the use of lithophones during activities that took place in decorated caves.
M. Lorblanchet, Les grottes ornées de la préhistoire, Errance, Paris. 1995
Commentary :
Large stalagmite formations in certain caves, bear traces of percussion. They were used as natural lithophones by Palaeolithic groups.
When struck with a wooden or bone striker, these calcite draperies produce a wide range of sounds.
Concentrations of representations are often found in areas of decorated caves, that possess similar acoustic properties.
In caves, musical expressions using natural lithophones probably, accompanied by other musical instruments, such as flutes or whistles, appear about 30 000 years ago.