Missing Membranophones? Traditional Drumbeaters in Northern Eurasia and Possible Prehistoric Parallels in European Archaeological Collections

Abstract

Membranophones or drums have traditionally been thought to be among the earliest musical instruments, even though traces of drumskins or wooden frames or bowls are missing from the archaeological record. On the other hand, there are a large number of nds from the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic eras that have not yet been convincingly interpreted, and which could be connected with drumming. Starting from historical and ethnographic perspectives, this article presents a selection of prehistoric antler artefacts and discusses their suitability as drumbeaters. Artefacts from European archaeological collections are examined and compared with antler artefacts that the Sámi and Siberian shamans from the 11th–20th centuries AD used for beating their drums.