This interdisciplinary study combines ethnology, archaeology and musicology in an attempt to shed light on the issue of palaeolithic bone flutes - sound-producing perforated tubular bones, bear mandibles and simple whistles made of animal phalanxes, excavated in the caves of Potočka zijalka, Mokriške jame. Divje babe I and from the Betalov spodmol. They date back to the Mousterian culture of the Neanderthals and the Aurignacien culture of the Cro-Magnons. The study compares these prehistoric flutes with folk instruments from various traditions around the world since they have existed in historical as well as prehistoric forms and varieties up to the 20th century in different parts of the world. The bear mandibles from Divje babe, are a natural musical instrument and flute and mark the beginning of the history of instrumental music in Slovenia and in the world. These finds have moved the beginning of cultural history back to the period of Neanderthal culture, that is to about 45.000 years ago.