Archaeologists have discovered what they believe to be the oldest known piece of music. Found in the ancient Syrian city of Ugarit and dated back to around 1,400 BCE, the songs are a collection of hymns inscribed onto clay tablets. Originally excavated in the 1950s, the tablets have been confirmed to form a complete cult hymn and the oldest preserved song with notation in the world.
The tablet took decades to translate. Researchers could read the script because it was written in cuneiform and also knew the value of the notations, but didn’t know what the notes meant. However, they later learned that some text were musical names that were translated into Hurrian, and that led to the discovery that the notes were musical notations. Other tablets were discovered, but only this one was sufficiently intact to translate. You can listen to a modern interpretation of the music at the link below.
Your mission: Who created this music? Was it religious in nature or entertainment? How did music change the culture? How did it help the Babylonians assimilate into Hurrian culture? What will happen to the music now? Will it become a breakout pop hit? What happens next?
