Description of the Reconstruction of the Silver Pipes from Ur

Abstract

The paper focuses on the reconstruction of the silver flutes (pipes) discovered in Ur. The artifacts were found in a fragmentary state and this is the reason why we cannot offer perfect reconstruction. These artifacts are in the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. The purpose of the paper is to provide probable evidence to support our hypothesis. The evidence can be found in several impression seals and depiction of a woman playing a pastoral whistle made of pearl shell. We will analyze material and written sources to describe a probable type of instrumental corresponding to the aerophones of Ur. The second part of the paper includes a description of three experiments with mouthpieces. The silver pipes from Ur bring hypotetical tone scale, because we have no mouthpiece, which is the most important component. Experiment number 1 („the arghul“ instrument generated these tones a♯–g–f♯–e–d–c♯). Experiment number 2 is an instrument with labium and its mode is not clear and exact. The pipe with three holes plays the tones c♯–a♯–g♯–f–d♯ and the pipe with four holes produces a♯–g–f–d♯ c♯–a♯–g♯–f–d♯. The pipes made of prepared metal sheets produces scales: d♯-c♯–b–a♯ (pipe with 3 holes) and f–e–d♯–d–c♯. Sometimes the pitch are not clear, but all tones are part of the „emb ubu“ mode. The mode, as well as a pastoral whistle, is named in some written sources in Mesopotamian literary tradition.