Final answer:
An ethnomusicologist studies preserved cave paintings to understand ancient music. They take an interdisciplinary approach, analyzing artifacts and historical contexts to conclude how music interacted with ancient cultures' social and spiritual lives.
Step-by-step explanation:
Type of Musicologist for Ancient Music Study
The type of musicologist who studies preserved cave paintings to learn about the music of an ancient culture is an ethnomusicologist. Ethnomusicologists investigate music within its social and cultural context, often using an interdisciplinary approach that includes historical, anthropological, and sociological methods. They may explore sites like the El Castillo Cave in Spain and employ instruments or methods used by indigenous people, such as playing stalactites or using animal horns to produce sounds, to gain insights into ancient music practices. By studying artifacts like musical instruments found at Ancestral Puebloan sites, ethnomusicologists like Emily Brown have gained a significant understanding of music's role in ancient societies. Lauren’s study connected music instruments to politics, music, social status, and social experiences. Research in this field has also contributed to the theory that cave art could have been associated with rituals involving music, as suggested by potential ancient music practices evidenced by paleolithic cave art.
Ethnomusicology requires an in-depth study of geographic areas and focuses on the human experience with music. This field has prospered from the work of predecessors such as Antonio Eximeno and folklorists, and it defines the anthropology of music. The practice investigates the necessity and functionality of musical instruments, such as those created by the Ancestral Puebloan, to comprehend both the cultural significance and the technical prowess behind their making.