Magical music

Music was closely related to magic and shamans often performed their rituals to music. A 9000-year-old mouth bow from Mullerup, western Zealand, is the world’s oldest stringed instrument. The bow, which is made from a rib bone, is preserved. This has grooves for attaching a string, although the latter has not survived. The mouth bow is an ancient instrument. It consists of a flexible bow with a string stretched out over it. When the string is played the mouth cavity acts as a resonator.

Music is also produced by “the bull roarer” from Kongemosen. It makes a whirring noise when swung in the air. This could also be used in connection with ritual ceremonies.