Ancient Arabian cymbals ring up Bronze Age musical connections

The copper cymbals suggest regional trade extended beyond pottery, beads and knives

Ancient cymbals found in what is now Oman

A pair of Bronze Age cymbals unearthed in southeastern Arabia, including this one shown during excavations, point to long-distance sharing of ritual and musical traditions around 4,000 years ago.

Khaled Douglas

Ritually important musical practices resounded across Bronze Age cultures from Arabia to South Asia, a pair of unusual discoveries suggest.