Abstract
We cannot know when our European ancestors first engaged in musical activities. Whenever such activities involve using only the body or the voice, they leave no material trace. To create an archaeological record, music-making needed to shape the environment – perhaps by leaving traces where ringing stones in the form of stalagmites were hit or by the creation of sound tools and musical instruments as such. However, most prehistoric tools would not survive for long as the materials from which they were made, such as wood, bark, hollow plant stems, animal skin, sinews or twisted gut, decay all too quickly. Only where the most durable materials were involved we are able to detect more or less unequivocal evidence of musical activity.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Music and Sounds in Ancient Europe |
Subtitle of host publication | Contributions from the European Music Archaeology Project |
Editors | Stefano De Angeli, Arnd Adje Both, Stefan Hagel, Peter Holmes, Raquel Jiménez Pasalodos, Cajsa S. Lund |
Place of Publication | Rome |
Publisher | European Music Archaeology Project |
Chapter | 1.2 |
Pages | 16-21 |
Number of pages | 6 |
ISBN (Print) | 9788890455537 |
Publication status | Published - 1 May 2018 |
Externally published | Yes |
Event | ARCHÆOMUSICA: The Sounds and Music of Ancient Europe - Ex Cartiera, Rome, Italy Duration: 11 Oct 2017 → 11 Dec 2017 http://www.emaproject.eu/exhibition/introduction.html |
Exhibition
Exhibition | ARCHÆOMUSICA |
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Country | Italy |
City | Rome |
Period | 11/10/17 → 11/12/17 |
Internet address |
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Profiles
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Arnd Adje Both
- Department of History, English, Linguistics and Music - Senior Research Fellow
- School of Music, Humanities and Media
- Centre for Music, Culture and Identity - Member
Person: Academic