One of the oldest wind instruments found in France
France, Feb 11: Researchers, while analysing materials from the archaeological excavations of Marsoulas cave in the Pyrenees, France, found a large Charonia lampus (sea snail) shell.
It was discovered in 1931. After 80 years, they realised that it was probably used as a musical instrument. Radiocarbon dating of the materials revealed that they were around 18,000 years old. The tip of the shell was broken. This would have been the mouthpiece. At the opposite side, one of the first coils was perforated. With the help of a horn player, they managed to produce three sounds close to the notes C, C-sharp, and D. This makes the Marsoulas conch one of the oldest wind instruments of its type.
