The earliest stringed instruments known to archeologists are bowl harps and tamburs. The world's museums contain many such harps from the ancient Sumerian, Babylonian and Egyptian civilizations. Around 2500-2000 CE more advanced harps, such as the opulently carved 11-stringed instrument with gold decoration found in Queen Shub-Ad's tomb, started to appear.
A tambur is defined as "a long-necked stringed instrument with a small egg or pear-shaped body, with an arched or round back, usually with a soundboard of wood and a long, straight neck". The tambur probably developed from the bowl harp as the neck was straightened out to allow the strings to be pressed down to create more notes.
*Sri Muthu Vinayagar Thunai*
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