Acoustical, Archaeometric and Musicological Study of Archaeological Musical Instruments: the Numantian Ceramic Trumpets (3rd-1st Centuries B.C.)

Abstract

Celtiberian pottery trumpets of late Iron Age (3rd-1st centuries B.C.) are known since they were found at the beginnings of twentieth century in the archaeological excavations of the ancient town of Numantia. They are ultracircular labrosone aerophones which have been traditionally interpreted as signaling instruments or instruments used to make noise in war contexts. This paper presents the first work of acoustical characterization of these instruments, which has allowed the checking of their musical possibilities, its capability to articulate different tones and, consequently, to produce not only simple signals or noise but also easy melodies. For this purpose an acoustical and musical study with modern reproductions of these instruments was carried out and such reproductions were compared with fragments of original Numantian trumpets, which has brought new and interesting data to musical archaeology of late Iron Age in the Iberian Peninsula.