Neolithic drum carvings discovered near village of Burton Agnes in Yorkshire

CAIRO – 13 February 2022: Archaeologists have discovered a 5,000-year-old cylinder-shaped "carving" made of stone during excavations near the village of Burton Agnes in Yorkshire, northern England.

The piece was discovered on an old estate site in the Yorkshire countryside in 2015. Experts have spent the past few years studying this unique element. They describe it as one of the most important examples of prehistoric art ever found on British soil, according to the ancient-origins website.

The British Museum in London has just announced this remarkable find, which is set to be on display at the museum on February 17. It will be included in an exhibition dedicated to the Neolithic site of Stonehenge, which will focus on this famous structure.

The early stages of construction at Stonehenge were completed about 5,000 years ago, and the exquisitely carved cylinder has been dated to the same time period. 

While the compact, barrel-shaped body is undeniable, the chalk drum has never actually been used as a musical instrument. Instead, it should be categorized as a type of Neolithic stone carving, and indeed one of the rarest.