Remember the Divje Babe “flute” controversy?

Dear All

Sorry if this is a bit of a slow follow up but I've only just found the time to do a bit of 'shopping around'. Although I failed to get my hands on a copy of the Morley article, I did turn up the following, which I thought might be of general interest:

First up is Iain Morley's complete dissertation "The Evolutionary Origins and Archaeology of Music", which can be downloaded freely from the Darwin College Research Reports site HERE
Of particular interest was section 3.3.2 entitled " Mousterian musicianship? The case of the Divje Babe I bone", which presumably forms the basis of the recently published article.

Julien Riel-Salvatore's Blog (HERE) has an interesting entry on the subject, which contrasts the results of the Morley paper with the results of a new paper from Ivan Turk and colleagues, which is still "in press" but available from the L'anthropologie Website:

Results of computer tomography of the oldest suspected flute from Divje babé I (Slovenia) and its chronological position within global palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental change during Last Glacial
Ivan Turk, Bonnie A.B. Blackwell, Janez Turk, Miran Pflaum

Abstract (can be found HERE)

New chronological and sedimentary morphogenetic analyses were combined to determine sedimentation rates, relative humidity, and palaeotemperatures for the Last Glacial (Würmian) deposits at Divje babé I, actually Slovenia’s most investigated Palaeolithic site. Local palaeotemperature and palaeopricipitations estimates were verified by comparing with palaeontological and palaeobotanical determinations and then compared to global d18O and palynological records. Eleven archaeologically significant layers were dated by 42 independent standard ESR (electron spin resonance) analyses from 26 cave bear teeth. Numerous sedimentary characteristics indicate that Divje babé experienced strong climatic fluctuations during the Late Pleistocene. From Layers 2 to 23, the ESR dates, sedimentological and biostratigraphical data suggest that stratigraphic sequence belongs mostly to OIS 5 and 3, and partially to OIS 4. A confident chronostratigraphical marker is correlated with OIS 5/4 boundary. The suspected flute, which dates to Moershoofd-Glinde or Orel Interstadial, and is definitely older than 46 ka, was analysed with the aid of multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) and reinterpreted in the light of two hypotheses, one of which envisages an artificial origin of the holes and the other a natural one. It was found that there were four holes on the diaphysis; that at least two were made prior to the damage to the proximal and distal ends of the diaphysis; and that carnivores could not have made all the holes, but one at the most. The holes are very probably artificial, made by the combined use of stone and simple bone tools found at the Divje babé I site. The majority, and probably all the damage made by carnivores on the suspected flute, are of secondary origin. Conclusions about the origin of the holes cannot therefore be reached only on the basis of the damage, and the hypothesis of an artificial origin cannot be rejected.

I haven't read the whole Turk article yet (and as it's in French it'll take some time) but it clearly comes to the opposite conclusion than the Morley article. Particularly interesting is the fact that Turk et al believe that, at most, only one of the holes could have been made by carnivores and that the carnivore damage is all of secondary origin - both findings directly contradict basic premises of Morley's analysis.
All in all it looks as if the controversy surrounding the Divje Babe 'Flute' is not about to go away anytime soon.

On a more incidental note, the "Articles in press" section of L'Anthropologie also contains a second 'flute article':

« Flute » and points from Grosse Badlhöhle, Austria
François Zoltan Horusitzky

Abstract (can be found HERE)

The Grosse Badlhöhle (Austria, Steiermark) is the origin of one of the most perfect bone points of the early Aurignacian and one of the best perforated femurs of the same period, which can be regarded as musical instruments. Two other fragments of points raise intriguing questions on the first Homo sapiens sapiens which cannot be solved today but will contribute to future research. A review on the debate of Palaeolithic flutes will follow with experimental proofs of boring artificial holes with high quality pictures on the blow-hole and the lack of gnawing traces on the opposite face. The musical possibility of an instrument with only one hole is discussed with ethnographic analogies. Hafting, optimal conditions of strength and possible use of arrows will close the discussion on the Badlhöhle bone artefacts.

Happy fluting

Keith