Cattle Bell 18th century Swiss BELLSMetal bells are among the oldest of extant musical instruments and can be found in nearly every culture that has highly developed metallurgical proficiency. Bells were, and still are, used for religious and ritual observance, signaling, music, or adornment of both humans and animals. Bells may be imbued with protective powers that ward off evil or perpetuate a prayer. Made in a variety of forms, some are sounded internally by a clapper, others contain a pellet that rolls freely inside the body (crotal bell), and some are struck externally by a beater.. Cattle Bell 504972