Troy excavations reveal 2,800-year-old bone flute

Archaeologists conducting excavations at the ancient city of Troy have discovered two significant artifacts: a 2,800-year-old bone flute and a 4,500-year-old human-shaped idol head. These finds were part of the 2026 excavation season under the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s ‘Heritage for the Future’ project.

The bone flute, dating back to the Archaic Period (approximately 750 to 480 BCE), is the first and only musical instrument ever recovered in the 160-year history of Troy excavations. This discovery provides direct archaeological evidence regarding the musical culture and social rituals of the ancient inhabitants.

The idol head, found near the Troy II city gate, dates back to the Early Bronze Age (approximately 2500 BCE). This artifact offers new insights into the symbolic world of Western Anatolia and the cultural interactions of that era. The site of Troy contains ten main settlement layers spanning from the early 3rd millennium BCE to the 13th century CE.