8,000-year-old bone flutes unearthed in Henan

Archaeologists have unearthed three flutes made from the bones of red-crowned cranes in Henan province that dates back 8,000 years, according to Zhengzhou Evening News.

One flute, which has five finger holes, is complete. The longest flute, at more than 20 centimeters long, has two holes but is broken into three pieces.

The flutes indicate people in the Huaihe River Delta 8,000 years ago had an affinity for music.

The recent discovery was made in a village in Wuyang county, which is 777 square kilometers. The village is located near the site of the Jiahu Ruins that was first discovered in 1961.

The Jiahu Ruins date back 7,700 to 9,000 years. Carbonized rice grains, animal bones and tortoise shells have been unearthed at the site.