When Were Drums Invented? Artifacts from China suggest that percussionists played drums made from alligator skins as far back as 5500 B.C, and iconography from ancient Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman cultures show the use of drums in religious ceremonies and cultural gatherings.

Are drums the oldest instrument?

Drums are the world's oldest and most ubiquitous musical instruments, and the basic design has remained virtually unchanged for thousands of years. ... A number of different drums together with cymbals form the basic modern drum kit.

Who invented the first ever drum?

5500 BC – First recorded appearance of drums made from alligator skins. They were originally made in Neolithic cultures from China, but that knowledge reached entire Asia in the next few millennia. 3000 BC – Bronze Dong Son drums were made in northern Vietnam.