Why Did Humans Begin Singing and Making Music Over 40,000 Years Ago? — Here’s What Researchers Think

Music is one of the most special things about humans. It symbolizes more than just sound and communication, which is often the case for other species. However, with humans, it meant more. It fosters our social connections, enhances our cognitions, boosts our emotional well-being, and is a vital part of almost every culture.

We sing, we hum, we clap, we drum, and we make instruments that could make music in harmony with us. However, why exactly did we develop these traits and characteristics? Were they important for our ancestors’ survival in the past?

Archaeological evidence dates back to the first instruments around 40,000 years ago, but experts suggest that our ability to make music and sing likely occurred far longer than that. So, in this article, let’s explore what could be the reasons why we developed music and how important a role it could have played in our evolution as a species.

Instruments, Bone Flutes, and Archeological Clues

At a site called Geissenklösterle in Germany, archaeologists found bone flutes made from birds’ and mammoths’ remains. They are dated to be around 40,000 years old, but there could have been a lot older, earlier instruments that were just not preserved. These musical instruments are a big piece of evidence that tells us a story about our ancestors in the past, that just like us, they may have used and enjoyed music and instruments in their daily lives.

These inventions also meant that humans did not just make noises by accident. The development of these musical instruments means early humans were intentional in creating sounds, suggesting that these could have had an important purpose, some form of symbolic meaning, or value in their society.

However, music and instruments were most likely not helpful in hunting and gathering resources. So, the leading theories involve human behaviors as a group. We are hypersocial creatures who would have found it harder to survive alone in the past. The need to be and belong in a group is most likely where the purpose and value of music and instruments are.

Read more: Sci News

Social Bonding, Group Cohesion, and Ritual

40,000 years of music explained in 8 minutes | Michael Spitzer

So, why make music? The answer is most likely rooted in its ability to make social groups bond together. The act of singing, drumming, and using instruments could have made people feel closer to each other. It could have established trust and cooperation, which are both fundamental in successfully working together as a group during the hunting and gathering phase of human evolution.

Another reason could be that once humans developed more complex rituals and culture, the rhymic sounds may have aided the ceremonies, gatherings, and spiritual events. It made these practices more grand or special, giving people the sense that they are a part of something bigger, which is an idea that ties back to the group’s social cohesion and identity.

In other words, music may have existed and persisted due to its capacity to bring people together emotionally and socially. It made our groups stronger, thus giving us a higher chance of survival in a world where no single person would be able to.

Communication, Signaling, and Partner Attraction

Another theory why music evolved and developed is for humans to communicate something deeper to another person or group. In the animal kingdom, different species use music, singing, or vocalization as a way to let others know of their intention. It could be a mating call, an aggressive sound to signal territory, or to warn others of possible threats and danger.

Humans’ musical ability could have functioned the same way. It could have acted as a signal to mate choices about a person’s health, intelligence, and creativity. In this scenario, the better someone’s voice, timing, and rhythm are, the more attractive one could be to possible mates.

There’s also a theory that states that music and the ability to intentionally make sounds could be used as language, even before vocal or spoken language evolved in humans. It may have served as a way to express emotions or signal a deeper meaning to someone. Still, these possible functions are rooted in humans’ sociability and relationships.

Read more: Sage Journals

Evolving from Vocal Calls, Rhythms, and Movement

How humans evolved music | Michael Spitzer

Music most likely did not start as it is today, or even from the 40,000-year-old instrument that was discovered. Instead, it may have begun as a simple sound like calls, drumming, and various movements. Gradually, early humans may have learned timings and rhythms, and then they combined them with their developing ability to make vocal sounds.

It is also believed that the human movement or dance evolved together with music. The rhythm that they may have discovered and learned also aligned the bodies. Individuals stepped, clapped, and moved together in synchrony. Dancing and music may have reinforced social bonding and connection with others.

During the hunting and gathering phases of humanity, which was most likely when humans developed music and dancing, cooperation as a group was not only necessary, but it was vital to survival. The social cohesion and coordination that music and rhythm strengthened are probably one of the keys that allowed early humans to deal with challenges that needed the group to work together, such as facing predators, competition with other groups, or scarcity of resources.

Author's Final Thoughts

Music is deeply interconnected with what it means to be a human today and for countless years ago. It most likely helped our ancestors develop the social bonds and structure that created societies and eventually civilizations in which we lived.

Although the reasons they first started making music are most likely not rooted in utility tasks like hunting and gathering resources, it still provided several benefits and values. Music allowed them to connect, to communicate, and to strengthen their social cohesion, and in doing so, they were able to develop a deeper sense of belonging and humanity that still lives on with us and is felt in every song and music we have today.

Read next: Why Did Humans Begin Sharing Food With Each Other Over 2 Million Years Ago? — Here’s What Researchers Suggest

References & Further Reading

Potengowski, A. F., et al. (2023). Experimental reconstructions of the mammoth-ivory flute from Geissenklösterle Cave and other Palaeolithic wind instruments. Journal of Music Archaeology. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/376292342_Experimental_Reconstructions_of_the_Mammoth_Ivory_Flute_from_Geissenklösterle_Cave_GK3_and_Other_Palaeolithic_Wind_Instruments_from_South-West_Germany

Conard, N. J., et al. (2009). New flutes document the earliest musical tradition in southwestern Germany. Nature. https://projekt.ht.lu.se/fileadmin/user_upload/sol/ovrigt/projekt_ccs/Conard_et_al._Flutes_Nature_2009.pdf

Fitch, W. T. (2006). The biology and evolution of music: A comparative perspective. Cognition. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2005.11.009

Patel, A. D. (2010). Music, biological evolution, and the brain. Cognitive Science. Available via academic archives