# Alligator drum

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{{Short description|Type of drum once used in Neolithic China}}
{{Infobox instrument
| name                  = Alligator drum
| image                 = 
| image_size            =
| alt                   =
| caption               =
| background            = percussion
| names                 =
| classification        = Membranophone
| hornbostel_sachs      = 211.2
| hornbostel_sachs_desc = Tubular drums
| inventors             =
| developed             = China
| timbre                = 
| volume                = 
| attack                = 
| decay                 = 
| range                 =
| pitch                 = 
| related               =
| musicians             =
| builders              =
| articles              =
}}

The '''alligator drum''' ({{zh|t={{linktext|鼉|鼓}}|s={{linktext|鼍|鼓}}|p=tuó gǔ}}) is a type of [drum](/source/drum) once used in [Neolithic China](/source/Neolithic_China), made from clay and alligator hides.

Alligator drums have been found over a broad area at the [Neolithic](/source/Neolithic) sites from modern [Shandong](/source/Shandong) in the east to [Qinghai](/source/Qinghai) in the west, dating to a period of 5500–2350 BC. In literary records, drums manifested shamanistic characteristics and were often used in ritual ceremonies.<ref>Liu, Li (2007). ''The Chinese Neolithic: Trajectories to Early States''. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. {{ISBN|0-521-01064-0}}. p. 123</ref> Drums covered with alligator skin for ceremonial use are mentioned in the ''[Shijing](/source/Shijing)''.<ref>Sterckx, Roel (2002). ''The Animal and the Daemon in Early China''. New York: State University of New York Press. {{ISBN|0-7914-5270-0}}. p. 125.</ref><ref>Porter, Deborah Lynn (1996). ''From Deluge to Discourse: Myth, History, and the Generation of Chinese Fiction''. New York: State University of New York Press. {{ISBN|0-7914-3034-0}}. p 53.</ref><ref>''Classic of Poetry'', "Major Court Hymns - Decade of King Wen - Ling Tai", quote: "鼉鼓逢逢、朦瞍奏公。" tr: "The alligator-drums rumble and grumble; while the tunes are played by the blind musicians' ensemble."</ref>

During the Archaic period, [alligator](/source/Chinese_alligator)s probably lived along the east coast of China, including southern [Shandong](/source/Shandong). The earliest alligator drums, comprising a wooden frame covered with alligator skin, are found in the archaeological sites at [Dawenkou](/source/Dawenkou), as well as several sites of [Longshan](/source/Longshan_culture).

Typical acoustic characteristics of the alligator drum are as follows: frequency: 4100–2600 Hz, amplitude: 3000–2000 dB, and wavelength: 2300–1900 Hz.<ref>Liu, Li (2007). ''The Chinese Neolithic: Trajectories to Early States''. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. {{ISBN|0-521-01064-0}}.</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Prehistoric technology}}
{{Traditional Chinese musical instruments| state=expanded}}
{{percussion}}

Category:Drums
Category:Archaeological artifacts
Category:Chinese musical instruments
Category:Medicine drums
Category:Neolithic China
Category:Asian percussion instruments

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Alligator drum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alligator_drum) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alligator_drum?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.