September 22, 1999 - Reuters - London

Archaeologists have found the world's oldest playable flute in China.

The 9,000 year-old, 8.6 inch instrument in pristine condition has seven holes and was made from a hollow bone of a bird, the red-crowned crane.

It is one of six flutes and 30 fragments recovered from the Jiahu archaeological site in Henan province.

``They are the oldest playable musical instruments,'' Garman Harbottle, of the Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, New York, said in a telephone interview.

A fragment of a 45,000 year-old flute was previously found in Slovenia but it could not be played.

The researchers believe the site will turn out to be one of the most important Neolithic sites ever found. In addition to proving that the early Chinese were accomplished musicians and craftspeople the Jiahu site also reveals much about their culture.

``It appears that the culture was more advanced than we were giving them credit for.''

``During this period 9,000 years ago, the Chinese in this village Jiahu already had established a village life. They had parts of the city, or village that were devoted to different functions,'' said Harbottle.

Some of the other flutes, which have between five and eight holes, could also be played but produced a cracking sound that alarmed researchers who feared the instruments could be damaged.

The scientists plan to make replicas of the ancient instruments to study their tonal qualities without endangering the instruments.