An ancient two-hole bone flute, thought to be some 8,000 years old has been discovered in Wuyang County in central China's Henan Province.

This is the oldest flute ever found in the world, and it pushes the world's musical history back another 3,000 years, according to archaeologists.

The bone flute, brown-yellow in color, had been broken into two parts when it was unearthed. It is more than 20 cm long. Delicate diamond-shaped patterns decorated both ends of the flute. During the excavation, three other seven-hole bone flutes were also found.

The bone used to make the flute probably belongs to a species of raptorial bird, the archaeologists think.

Other ancient bone flutes -- 30 in all -- have so far been discovered in Wuyang County. However, the two-hole one is believed to be the oldest.

The excavation was jointly conducted by the China Science and Technology University, Henan Cultural Relics Research Institute and Wuyang County Museum.

(Xinhua News Agency 07/04/2001)