Short answers, pulled from the story.
Archaeologists uncovered drums made with alligator skins in Neolithic cultures located in China. These artifacts date to a period between 5500 and 2350 BC. Literary records from that era describe these early instruments as having shamanistic characteristics.
Modern band drums use tension rods to hold the drumhead onto the shell while six to ten screws adjust the tightness. Before this invention, rope systems attached skins on instruments like the Djembe. Pegs and ropes also tuned Ewe drums in earlier centuries.
Drums acquired divine status in places such as Burundi where the karyenda symbolized royal power during the king's reign. Sri Lankan history shows drums used for communication between state and community over 2500 years. Many cultures practice drumming as a spiritual passage or religious ceremony.
Chinese troops utilized tàigü drums to motivate soldiers during ancient conflicts. A war between Qi and Lu occurred in 684 BC with drum effects changing battle results. Aztec nations sent signals to warriors using drums during pre-Columbian warfare periods.
The type of shell affects sound because vibrations resonate inside the drum body. Mahogany raises low pitch frequencies while keeping higher speeds constant. Thicker shells produce louder sounds compared to thinner alternatives.