Pre-Roman Musical Instrument Found Near Rome

[BillTre]

Twelve years ago a stray artifact was unearthed near Rome.
It is now claimed to be a musical instrument, possible similar to either a lute or a lyre.
Here is a NY Times article on it (with recordings from some reconstructions) as well as some other ancient instruments.

 

[jedishrfu]

Interesting, it reminds me of some Chinese artifact that were found but which they couldn't decide what they were used for.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cong_(vessel)

It would be fun to create a sci-fi story where the protagonist goes back thinking this is part of an instrument only to find its a cheese shredder but fear not makes it into a guitar and starts playing Johnny Be Good (oh wait that part happened in Back to the Future) :-)