Reed Pipes
As with the hornpipes and bagpipes, reed pipes would have been sounded by a reed probably made from Phragmites australis, bird feather such as swan or a wood such as elder. While the definite reed pipes have all been found in the East of the British Isles, they may have existed across the country with potential finds from other places such as Winchester.
The current evidence may suggest the reed pipes have rounder, perhaps slightly more spaced and more well finished fingerholes, but this evidence is currently too limited for any firm conclusions. If the reed pipes did have a higher level of precision it may have been they were used more for playing together for entertainment. Perhaps they were not used for signalling.
Date: Middle Saxon
Bone: Crane Tarsometatarsus (Leg Bone)
Location Found: St Stephen’s Lane, Ipswich
Type of Site: Urban
These are the only bone pipes so far found from Saxon England that were found as a pair. Both featuring six fingerholes on the front and one, presumably to be covered by the thumb on the back, they each have more fingerholes than any other bone pipe from this period. The complete nature of these bone pipes and lack of window means they could not have been a duct flute and were most likely sounded by reeds.
While it is possible they were tied together and played as a pair by one person, the placement of the fingerholes would potentially have made this challenging, although some of the holes could have been plugged. It is also possible they were played by two separate people using both hands, potentially at the same time. This may explain the close proximity of the finds and their similar appearance, which is also due to them being the right and left crane leg bones from the same bird.
These reed pipes are currently held at Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service.
Date: Saxon
Bone: Crane Ulna (Wing Bone)
Location Found: Suffolk
Type of Site: Urban
Similar in style to the pair of reed pipes, this instrument is believed to be another example of that type of reed pipe despite being fragmented. While the number of fingerholes is unknown, two complete remain with two more evidenced in the fragmentary section and the potential for about six on the whole instrument. Found in a different site to the pair, but in the same area of the country, it is possible there was a tradition for this type of object in that area. However, more may yet be found in other parts of the country which may allow such a link to be understood.
This pipe are currently held at Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service.
Date: Fifth-ninth century AD
Bone: Sheep/Deer Metatarsal (Leg Bone)
Location Found: A 14, St Neots, Cambridgeshire
Type of Site: Urban
The shape at the top of this instrument would suggest a reed pipe. However, this reed pipe differs from those made from crane bones, because it features a form of decoration, potentially due to the thicker nature of the mammal leg bone compared to bird bones. This decoration bears resemblance to both the Hungate wooden pipe and Scandinavian hornpipes, although there is no evidence of a tenon or plate to assist with the attachment of a horn/bag, this bone pipe is most likely a reed pipe rather than a bagpipe or hornpipe.
This pipe is currently held in the collection of the Museum of London Archaeology.
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