Bone flute dating back 2,800 years unearthed at ancient Troy in first such discovery across 160 years of digs

Exam-focused facts from the 27 October 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

Archaeologists have discovered a 2,800-year-old bone flute at Troy, the first musical instrument found in 160 years of excavations at the site.
The flute was found in the site's Archaic layer and dates to approximately 750-480 B.C., providing the first direct archaeological evidence of musical culture at Troy.
Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced the discoveries from the 2026 excavation season.
Dr Rustem Aslan, director of the Troy excavations, stated this is the first time a bone flute has been encountered in the history of Troy excavations.
A 4,500-year-old humanoid idol head was also found in a fire-damaged layer dating to Troy II, the city's Early Bronze Age phase.