Prehistoric music
Prehistoric music (previously primitive music) is a term in the history of music for all music produced in preliterate cultures (prehistory), beginning somewhere in very late geological history. Prehistoric music is followed by ancient music in different parts of the world, but still exists in isolated areas. However, it is more common to refer to the "prehistoric" music which still survives as folk, indigenous or traditional music. Prehistoric music is studied alongside other periods within music archaeology. 

Findings from Paleolithic archaeology sites suggest that prehistoric people used carving and piercing tools to create instruments. Archeologists have found Paleolithic flutes carved from bones in which lateral holes have been pierced. The Divje Babe flute, carved from a cave bear femur, is thought to be at least 40,000 years old. Instruments such as the seven-holed flute and various types of stringed instruments, such as the Ravanahatha, have been recovered from the Indus Valley Civilization archaeological sites. India has one of the oldest musical traditions in the world—references to Indian classical music ("marga") are found in the Vedas, ancient scriptures of the Hindu tradition. The earliest and largest collection of prehistoric musical instruments was found in China and dates back to between 7000 and 6600 BCE.
Q846047
history of music
Concept
Q638
music
Concept
Q8236
preliterate
Concept
Q11756
prehistory
Concept
Q2389585
geological history
Concept
Q18846
ancient music
Concept
Q43343
folk
Concept
Q3621488
music archaeology
Concept
Q40203
Paleolithic
TIME
Q17146875
Paleolithic flutes
Concept
Q1777287
Divje Babe flute
MISC
Q188851
cave bear
Concept
Q176503
femur
Concept
Q1798603
stringed instruments
Concept
Q2724498
Ravanahatha
Concept
Q42534
Indus Valley Civilization
Concept
Q23498
archaeological
Concept
Q1323698
Indian classical music
Concept
Q39950
Vedas
Concept
Q10090
Hindu
Concept
Q148
China
LOC
Q761684
Prehistoric music
Concept
Q761684
Prehistoric music
Concept
Q761684
Prehistoric music
Concept
7000-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
7000
DATE
6600-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
6600
DATE
subclass of
facet of
history of topic