Recreating the Sound of Ancient Instruments: From Tutankhamun's Trumpets to 3D-Printed Whistles

Advancements in technology have propelled decades of research into ancient musical instruments. In 1939, British trumpeter James Tappern performed on two trumpets discovered in Tutankhamun's tomb during a live radio broadcast, resulting in modifications that damaged one of the instruments. Currently, experts like MFA curator Jared Katz and MIT researchers Benjamin Sabatini and Mark Rau are utilizing industrial CT scans to produce 3D-printed replicas. Their initial public demonstration featured a whistle from the Paracas culture (600-175 BC) showcased at an MIT event in November 2025. Since 2013, the European Music Archaeology Project, backed by €4 million from the EU, has reconstructed instruments such as the carnyx of Tintignac. Additionally, researchers in China have been simulating the sound of the bronze bells of Marquis Yi of Zeng since 2007.