The notched wood is believed to be the bridge of an ancient lyre
Posted on 03/31/2012 10:44:01 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Archaeologists believe they have uncovered the remains of the earliest stringed instrument to be found so far in western Europe.
The small burnt and broken piece of carved piece of wood was found during an excavation in a cave on Skye.
Archaeologists said it was likely to be part of the bridge of a lyre dating to more than 2,300 years ago.
Music archaeologist Dr Graeme Lawson said the discovery marked a "step change" in music history...
The remains, which were unveiled in Edinburgh, were found in High Pasture Cave, where Bronze and Iron Age finds have been made previously...
Steven Birch, an archaeologist involved in the excavation, said deeper sections of the cave were reached using a flight of stone steps.
He said: "Descending the steep and narrow steps, the transition from light to dark transports you out of one world into a completely different realm, where the human senses are accentuated.
"Within the cave, sound forms a major component of this transformation, the noise of the underground stream in particular producing a calming environment."
Dr Fraser Hunter, principal curator of Iron Age and Roman Collections at National Museums Scotland, said the fragment of musical instrument put "sound into the silent past".
Culture and External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop added: "This is an incredible find and it clearly demonstrates how our ancestors were using music and ritual in their lives. The evidence shows that Skye was a gathering place over generations and that it obviously had an important role to play in the celebration and ritual of life more than 2,000 years ago."
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
The notched wood is believed to be the bridge of an ancient lyre
Whoops, please correct the date to Wednesday, March 28, 2012. Thanks!
Music was invented by a prehistoric hunter who was strumming his bow during a lull in the action....
WHY didn't you tell me the mods could do this, Civ????
While yer at it there mod....March 26, 1996...there's something I need to do...
And no this isn't a thread hijack. They just think it may have been a lyre. So I can fiddle around all I want.
Broken and burnt? Perhaps they have dated the oldest known music critic, too.
|
|
|
| GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach | |
|
|
Thanks Renfield. |
|
|
|
|
This guitar was invented by Mick in 400 B.C. who also invented the wheel by rolling stones.
Didn’t realize I could pull some strings around here, didja? ;’) Pull some strings, ah ha ha, I kill me.
Wow. My son just performed at a music festival in Skye. I’ll send him this link. Thanks.
I wonder if they played the “Skye Boat Song” with it.
:’D
You’re the lyre.
Great!
Could be worse I guess. You could be beating your own drum. Couldn’t take that now....
I zither and surf the web, but don’t beat my own drum (so to speak).
Skye boat come and me wan’ go home.
I’m not harping at you. ;-))
Ossian it the same way, so no worries.
Customers who liked this also liked: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3xcfOCqtqQ
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
