FLUTES OF THE ICE AGE.
There were cold days and long winter evenings in the Otshevi mountains of JugoSlavia 25.0001 years ago, but the cave dweller ot,_ that remote period had his joyful heurs^.hli moments of relaxation. Returning heme after ths chase of the caW, bear he played the flute to his VfffmfWJv^nd a few choice friends. , ':"::'":' ■;•'.■;." / ■
That is thosc«nej,which Professor. Brodar, who has.: been exploring* the Potocka Cave, brings before us. Beneath the deposits of centuries tit found the bones of the bear, worked into awls and needles End other; implements, with which the'cave man ititchsd the skins that protected him, from the blasts of the rctrcatino Ice Aoe.. ; ' .
Far more remarkable than these were bones rounded and:' carved and drilled with little circular holes—flutes without a doubt. From the Petecka Cavt the music of the ages tifhs plaintively to us across 250 centuries. :
Picture the scene.■ The lUlwirt hunter, home from the'hill, hat eaten his bear steak. His thildren ara gnawing the bones In a .distant corntr of the cave. The smoky tin gleams fitfully on the ceillni, arid on the a'avs man's wife stitching a new bearskin for her lord. The cave man,, at the. repeated requests of his friends .(who; 1 bain* well fed, are perhaps unduly .flattering), consents to play a piece.
He draws from a crevice one of his precious flutes. He putt his bearded lips to the bone *nd the thin shrill; notes of the flirt musical; instrument' echo throuih^eriiiotmi vh l*?:la. «),Wip»fuL scene; Every one Is satiifled. Musi* hath chirms to soothe the savage beast The only complaint might ceme from the bear, wnioh wUht" ttilillc It"liad- contributed too much to the entertilnment.
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Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 56, 9 March 1929, Page 15
Word Count
281FLUTES OF THE ICE AGE. Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 56, 9 March 1929, Page 15
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