<P> Upper Paleolithic ( and possibly Middle Paleolithic ) humans used flute - like bone pipes as musical instruments , and music may have played a large role in the religious lives of Upper Paleolithic hunter - gatherers . As with modern hunter - gatherer societies , music may have been used in ritual or to help induce trances . In particular , it appears that animal skin drums may have been used in religious events by Upper Paleolithic shamans , as shown by the remains of drum - like instruments from some Upper Paleolithic graves of shamans and the ethnographic record of contemporary hunter - gatherer shamanic and ritual practices . </P>
what evidence has been found suggesting that music was part of life in the paleolithic period
remains of drum - like instruments from some Upper Paleolithic graves of shamans the ethnographic record of contemporary hunter - gatherer shamanic and ritual practices