An ancient Egyptian flute from 3,300 years ago discovered may have been used in the same way as a police whistle
//Summary - Level-B2//
Archaeologists have discovered small flutes made from cow bones in Amarna, Egypt, dating back over 3,300 years. Research indicates that these bone flutes, shaped like modern whistles, were used by guards who served as police officers during the construction of royal tombs. Found in a checkpoint hut, the instruments likely served to signal or control access to restricted areas. Murals also show guards on duty, supporting this theory. This is the first confirmed example of such a flute in Egypt, offering new insight into the daily lives and security practices of ordinary people, not just pharaohs and monuments.
1)
The sound of a whistle.
Today, it is commonly associated with police officers, but research suggests that a similar whistle may have existed in ancient Egypt as long as 3,300 years ago.
2)
The latest research from Griffith University in Australia suggests that flutes made from cow bones, discovered in Amarna, the capital built by King Tutankhamun's father, were likely used by people acting as “police officers” at the construction site of the royal tombs.
Details of the research were published in the scientific journal International Journal of Osteoarchaeology on 1 September 2025.
3)
What are these “ancient Egyptian flutes” made from? Ox bones.
This discovery stems from the discovery of minor bone artefacts found in an area called the “Stone Village” in the ancient city of Akhetaten (now Amarna), located in central Egypt.
4)
This city was founded in the late 14th century BC by Pharaoh Akhenaten (father of King Tutankhamun) and flourished briefly as the capital.
The excavated bone was crafted from the hoof section of a cow, measuring only a few centimetres in total length.
It fits neatly in the palm and features a single round hole pierced through its centre.
5)
According to the research team's latest investigation, the shape and wear patterns indicate these bones were not mere waste material but were actually crafted into “flutes”.
The team created replicas using new cattle bones from the same part and conducted experiments.
The results revealed that the natural curve at the bone's end was ideally suited for placing the lips against, and simply blowing into the hole produced a clear sound.
They were constructed using the same precise mechanism as modern whistles.
6)
More significantly, this marks the first discovery of a “definite bone flute” from an ancient Egyptian site, accompanied by evidence confirming its purpose.
The flute was unearthed inside a hut believed to have served as a checkpoint managing access to the village.
This was no coincidence.
7)
What were the ancient Egyptian “police officers” guarding?
The Stone Village at Amarna and the nearby Workers' Village housed labourers involved in constructing the royal tombs.
These villages required strict control over access to construction sites and critical areas.
The building where the flute was found is thought to have been precisely such a “checkpoint” for monitoring the movement of people and goods.
8)
Indeed, records indicate that at that time, an elite guard force called the ‘Meyayehu’, originating from semi-nomadic backgrounds, was responsible for guarding the city and tombs in Amarna.
They performed a role akin to modern police officers, using various tools for access control and maintaining order.
This bone flute is thought to have been used by such guards to alert others or signal an anomaly.
9)
Further evidence comes from murals in the tombs of Amarna's security personnel, depicting scenes of guards keeping watch at village entrances or apprehending trespassers.
Given this context, it is highly probable that this flute served as an “ancient police whistle” in active duty during security operations.
10)
While bone flutes themselves have been found in various regions, including Europe's Stone Age, they are scarce in ancient Egypt.
This discovery also broadens the perspective of ancient Egyptian studies, which has previously focused heavily on pharaohs, royal tombs, and monuments, towards the “lives of ordinary people”.
An ancient Egyptian flute from 3,300 years ago discovered may have been used in the same way as a police whistle
https://nazology.kusuguru.co.jp/archives/185085
