This instrument, in a remarkable state of preservation, was formed out of a sheep/goat tibia shaft. It was pierced with five finger holes along its top and with an (upper) thumb hole underneath. It may be missing some form of mouthpiece, but it is otherwise complete. It is very similar to an example from Keynsham Abbey, Somerset, found in 1964, which was associated with a mid-14th century coin.
Bone flutes and pipes are rare archaeological finds generally but are among the more common musical instruments that are found. Further examples are known from across Europe, including more finds from England, from: Winchester, Hampshire; Flaxengate, Lincoln; Coppergate, York; and a pair of reed pipes from Ipswich, Suffolk.
You can read more about this artefact and the site it came from, on our website https://cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk/excavations-at-herne-bay-kent/
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