Little Miss Muffet, eating her curds and whey, probably did not know that cheese was originally produced more than 7,500 years ago.
Researchers from Britain, the United States and Poland analyzed residue embedded in pottery found in the Polish region of Kuyavia. They found the pottery fragments, which were perforated much like sieves used today, contained fatty acids consistent with the production of curds and whey.
Turning milk into cheese has several advantages. Cheese is more easily stored than milk, which helped add to early man’s ability to store food. It is believed that most people of the time would have been lactose intolerant. Curds contain far less lactose than whole milk and are rich in fat, which is a valuable source of energy. The whey is rich in lactose, which can be thrown away or used for animal feed.
Cheese-making, of course, had to wait until milk-producing animals such as cows and goats were domesticated. Before then, milking an aurochs or wild goat would have proven hazardous at best.
Evidence of milk production and storage has been found at 8,000-year old sites in Turkey and Libya, but there was no evidence at any of these sites that any of the milk had been made into cheese.
It is not known at present what the source of the milk was. People living around the world today harvest milk from horses, cows, goats, and other local domesticated animals.
The more we learn about the food producing capabilities of our distant ancestors, the more our respect for the ingenuity and sophistication of these people grows. How much more of our "modern" inventions and practices really had its origins in the ancient world?
Monday, December 31, 2012
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
The World’s Oldest Noodles
A sealed bowl unearthed at the Lajia archaeological site in China has revealed the well-preserved remains of thin, yellow noodles dated at around 4,000 years old. This discovery may finally settle the long-standing argument about whether noodles were invented in China or in Italy.
The bowl was found under ten feet (three meters) of sediment. The contents, long, thin, yellow noodles, were easily recognizable. Later analysis showed that they were made of two types of millet which had been ground into flour. Millet is indigenous to China and has been cultivated there for more than 7,000 years. While wheat-based noodles are the most common type found in the world today, millet noodles are still a staple food in poorer areas in China.
The combination of two varieties of millet, broomcorn and foxtail, is interesting in itself. Foxtail millet alone would not lend itself to being pulled and stretched into thin noodles because it is not sticky enough. When combined with broomcorn millet, though, the dough becomes sticky enough to be handled and pulled into shape. This suggests a sophisticated level of knowledge in creating and handling millet dough.
The earliest recorded evidence of noodles is a mention in a book written sometime between A.D. 25 and 220. This time frame is consistent with the appearance of noodles in other parts of the world, although those noodles were usually made of wheat rather than millet.
Historians and other experts have long argued about whether modern noodles were invented by the Chinese, the Italians, or by Arabs. Some stories credit Italian explorer Marco Polo with introducing noodles into Europe.
There’s more information on this story here
The bowl was found under ten feet (three meters) of sediment. The contents, long, thin, yellow noodles, were easily recognizable. Later analysis showed that they were made of two types of millet which had been ground into flour. Millet is indigenous to China and has been cultivated there for more than 7,000 years. While wheat-based noodles are the most common type found in the world today, millet noodles are still a staple food in poorer areas in China.
The combination of two varieties of millet, broomcorn and foxtail, is interesting in itself. Foxtail millet alone would not lend itself to being pulled and stretched into thin noodles because it is not sticky enough. When combined with broomcorn millet, though, the dough becomes sticky enough to be handled and pulled into shape. This suggests a sophisticated level of knowledge in creating and handling millet dough.
The earliest recorded evidence of noodles is a mention in a book written sometime between A.D. 25 and 220. This time frame is consistent with the appearance of noodles in other parts of the world, although those noodles were usually made of wheat rather than millet.
Historians and other experts have long argued about whether modern noodles were invented by the Chinese, the Italians, or by Arabs. Some stories credit Italian explorer Marco Polo with introducing noodles into Europe.
There’s more information on this story here
Monday, December 17, 2012
The Oldest Known Dinosaur
A fossil that’s been lying around in a British museum for years has now pushed back the earliest known existence of dinosaurs by an estimated ten to fifteen million years.
The fossil was originally discovered in the 1930s by Rex Parrington of Cambridge University near Lake Nyasa, now known as Lake Malawi, in Tanzania. It is now being called Nyasasaurus parringtoni in honor of the discovery. It has been kept at London’s Natural History Museum for decades. A study conducted in the 1950s was inconclusive, but advancements in paleongology in the intervening years has allowed researchers to better understand fossils such as this one.
Although the fossil is fragmentary, investigators were able to identify several features that they say are common to dinosaurs. The bones show marks of rapid growth, which is common to dinosaurs, and the upper arm muscles were anchored to the bones by an elongated deltopectoral crest, which is unique in dinosaurs. Its hips also display features only known in dinosaurs.
Researchers believe Nyasaurus probably stood upright and measured 7 to 10 feet (2 to 3 meters) from head to tail. It likely weighed about 45 to 120 pounds (20 to 60 kg). Evidence so far indicates that it sported a long neck and tail.
A similar fossil has since been discovered at the Iziko South African Museum in Cape Town, South Africa. Researchers are planning field work in Tanzania in the hope of finding more fossils. They hope to find more evidence to better understand this animal’s anatomy.
Although dinosaurs are associated with the Jurassic Period, it has long been argued by some theorists that they or their predecessors had to have been living at least as far back as the Middle Triassic period, which ended about 237 million years ago. Nyasaurus has now provided the best evidence for the validity of the theory.
The world of Nyasaurus was very different from that of the later dinosaurs. The world’s continents were still joined together in a great landmass called Pangaea. At that time, what is now Tanzania would have been located in the southern part of the supercontinent. South America, Africa, Antarctica and Australia were all located in the general area at that time.
Nyasaurus was dated based on the age of the rock layer in which it was found, along with the ages of the layers both above and below the location of the find. They also compared the ages of these rock layers with others located around the world which contained similar animal remains.
Perhaps this discovery will encourage researchers to watch for other fossils in their Triassic-age excavations.
For more information, go here
The fossil was originally discovered in the 1930s by Rex Parrington of Cambridge University near Lake Nyasa, now known as Lake Malawi, in Tanzania. It is now being called Nyasasaurus parringtoni in honor of the discovery. It has been kept at London’s Natural History Museum for decades. A study conducted in the 1950s was inconclusive, but advancements in paleongology in the intervening years has allowed researchers to better understand fossils such as this one.
Although the fossil is fragmentary, investigators were able to identify several features that they say are common to dinosaurs. The bones show marks of rapid growth, which is common to dinosaurs, and the upper arm muscles were anchored to the bones by an elongated deltopectoral crest, which is unique in dinosaurs. Its hips also display features only known in dinosaurs.
Researchers believe Nyasaurus probably stood upright and measured 7 to 10 feet (2 to 3 meters) from head to tail. It likely weighed about 45 to 120 pounds (20 to 60 kg). Evidence so far indicates that it sported a long neck and tail.
A similar fossil has since been discovered at the Iziko South African Museum in Cape Town, South Africa. Researchers are planning field work in Tanzania in the hope of finding more fossils. They hope to find more evidence to better understand this animal’s anatomy.
Although dinosaurs are associated with the Jurassic Period, it has long been argued by some theorists that they or their predecessors had to have been living at least as far back as the Middle Triassic period, which ended about 237 million years ago. Nyasaurus has now provided the best evidence for the validity of the theory.
The world of Nyasaurus was very different from that of the later dinosaurs. The world’s continents were still joined together in a great landmass called Pangaea. At that time, what is now Tanzania would have been located in the southern part of the supercontinent. South America, Africa, Antarctica and Australia were all located in the general area at that time.
Nyasaurus was dated based on the age of the rock layer in which it was found, along with the ages of the layers both above and below the location of the find. They also compared the ages of these rock layers with others located around the world which contained similar animal remains.
Perhaps this discovery will encourage researchers to watch for other fossils in their Triassic-age excavations.
For more information, go here
Monday, December 10, 2012
The World’s Oldest Color Movies
The world’s oldest color movies were found by a curator at the National Museum in the UK. They were shot in 1899 by inventor Edward Raymond Turner in 1899.
The films were originally shot in black and white, then each frame was run through red, green, or blue gels. The process had to be reversed during projection to reveal the colors, but Turner had left a blueprint of the process, which allowed the museum’s team to reproduce the process using digital technology.
In the end, Turner’s process proved too complex and the end products would have been inferior to the chemical processes such as Kinemacolor (1909) and Technicolor, which eventually became standard in the film industry.
The collection includes footage of a goldfish in a bowl, Turner’s own children, a scarlet macaw, soldiers marching in Hyde Park. The very first shot is believed to be of traffic on London’s Knightsbridge.
The collection was donated to the Science Museum in 1937 by cinema pioneer Charles Urban, an American businessman who had moved to London. They were rediscovered when the collection was moved to Bradford about three years ago.
Michael Harvey, the museum’s creator of cinematography, assembled a team to try to reconstruct Turner’s methods. They were successful, proving that Turner’s technology did indeed work. They then dated the films by using the footage of Turner’s children, whose birthdates are known. Turner died in 1903 at the age of 29, so the museum’s researchers knew the films could not have been made after that date.
The footage has since been shown to the public at the Bradford Museum and a BBC documentary featuring the footage was broadcast in parts of Britain.
If you’d like to take a look at these extraordinary bits of film, go here
The films were originally shot in black and white, then each frame was run through red, green, or blue gels. The process had to be reversed during projection to reveal the colors, but Turner had left a blueprint of the process, which allowed the museum’s team to reproduce the process using digital technology.
In the end, Turner’s process proved too complex and the end products would have been inferior to the chemical processes such as Kinemacolor (1909) and Technicolor, which eventually became standard in the film industry.
The collection includes footage of a goldfish in a bowl, Turner’s own children, a scarlet macaw, soldiers marching in Hyde Park. The very first shot is believed to be of traffic on London’s Knightsbridge.
The collection was donated to the Science Museum in 1937 by cinema pioneer Charles Urban, an American businessman who had moved to London. They were rediscovered when the collection was moved to Bradford about three years ago.
Michael Harvey, the museum’s creator of cinematography, assembled a team to try to reconstruct Turner’s methods. They were successful, proving that Turner’s technology did indeed work. They then dated the films by using the footage of Turner’s children, whose birthdates are known. Turner died in 1903 at the age of 29, so the museum’s researchers knew the films could not have been made after that date.
The footage has since been shown to the public at the Bradford Museum and a BBC documentary featuring the footage was broadcast in parts of Britain.
If you’d like to take a look at these extraordinary bits of film, go here
Monday, December 3, 2012
The World’s Oldest Intact Spears
It was long thought that ancient people such as Homo heidelbergensis used only thrusting spears, if they used such weapons at all. They were not thought to have been intelligent enough, or technologically advanced enough, to have developed spears that could actually be thrown. The Schöningen spears, along with the similarly old Clacton spear tip, have caused researchers to rethink their positions.
Three intact spears were initially discovered in 1992 by archaeologist Hartmut Thieme of the Institute of Ancient Monuments in Hanover, Germany. He found them in an active lignite mine, in an area roughly 30 to 50 feet (8 to 15 meters) below the surface. Since then, five more have been discovered. Radiocarbon dating has now confirmed that these weapons range in age from about 380,000 to 400,000 years.
The spears, each more than 6 feet to about 7.5 feet long, were carefully shaped to form a center of gravity a third of the way from the tip. This proportion is still used in modern javelins to allow them to fly farther and more accurately. Each was made from spruce tree trunks, each about 30 years old when harvested, with the tip formed from the harder lower end of the trunk. The similarity of construction shows that they were not randomly carved, but rather that their makers were working to a standard pattern.
The spears were not found in an archaeological vacuum. Archaeologists have recovered thousands of pieces of bone, many of which bore cut marks made by flint tools. The flints themselves were discovered along with grooved wooden "handles" which may have held them to create knives and fleshing tools. If that is the case, the flints and wooden "handles" may be examples of the oldest composite tools known in the world.
Prior to the discovery of the Schöningen spears, it was thought that only modern humans could have developed the design and construction skills needed to create them. They also may shed light on the hunting methods of these ancient people. The bones found at the site include elephant, horse, and deer. These animals are not easily killed by lone hunters, so the implication is that the people who created and used the spears hunted in groups. This would have required the ability to plan and carry out organized hunting expeditions.
The discovery of the Schöningen spears caused a sensation when it was announced. It also helped in establishing the credibility of the 500,000 spear fragment found at Clacton, England in 1911 found in deposits of comparable age to those of Schöningen. It is astonishing that the Schöningen spears survived at all, but the issues raised by their existence still have some experts scratching their heads and rethinking their positions regarding the intelligence of these ancient and remarkable people.
There’s more information here and here
Three intact spears were initially discovered in 1992 by archaeologist Hartmut Thieme of the Institute of Ancient Monuments in Hanover, Germany. He found them in an active lignite mine, in an area roughly 30 to 50 feet (8 to 15 meters) below the surface. Since then, five more have been discovered. Radiocarbon dating has now confirmed that these weapons range in age from about 380,000 to 400,000 years.
The spears, each more than 6 feet to about 7.5 feet long, were carefully shaped to form a center of gravity a third of the way from the tip. This proportion is still used in modern javelins to allow them to fly farther and more accurately. Each was made from spruce tree trunks, each about 30 years old when harvested, with the tip formed from the harder lower end of the trunk. The similarity of construction shows that they were not randomly carved, but rather that their makers were working to a standard pattern.
The spears were not found in an archaeological vacuum. Archaeologists have recovered thousands of pieces of bone, many of which bore cut marks made by flint tools. The flints themselves were discovered along with grooved wooden "handles" which may have held them to create knives and fleshing tools. If that is the case, the flints and wooden "handles" may be examples of the oldest composite tools known in the world.
Prior to the discovery of the Schöningen spears, it was thought that only modern humans could have developed the design and construction skills needed to create them. They also may shed light on the hunting methods of these ancient people. The bones found at the site include elephant, horse, and deer. These animals are not easily killed by lone hunters, so the implication is that the people who created and used the spears hunted in groups. This would have required the ability to plan and carry out organized hunting expeditions.
The discovery of the Schöningen spears caused a sensation when it was announced. It also helped in establishing the credibility of the 500,000 spear fragment found at Clacton, England in 1911 found in deposits of comparable age to those of Schöningen. It is astonishing that the Schöningen spears survived at all, but the issues raised by their existence still have some experts scratching their heads and rethinking their positions regarding the intelligence of these ancient and remarkable people.
There’s more information here and here
Monday, November 26, 2012
World's Oldest Traffic Light
Ashville, Ohio, has laid claim to being the home of the world’s oldest working traffic light, although a few other towns are arguing that theirs is older.
The light, designed by Ashville resident Teddy Boor, was originally installed in 1932 at the corner of Main and Long Streets. It served until 1982, a total of 50 years when it was retired because color-blind people could not decide whether it was red or green. It has a unique, futuristic design, looking somewhat like a silver football.
Since it was retired, it has been directing foot traffic at the Small Town Museum in Ashville. Until 2005, it was taken outside every year during the town’s annual 4th of July celebrations. But fears that it might be stolen ended that tradition and it has not left the Museum building since. It is still operating continuously in its Museum home, which also features the world’s largest scrap book.
The Museum’s director, Charlie Morrison, says that while other claimants have come forward to dispute Ashville’s claim for their traffic light as the world’s oldest continuously working example, they have not been able to prove their cases. So for now, at least, the Ashville traffic light is on record as the oldest working traffic light.
The light, designed by Ashville resident Teddy Boor, was originally installed in 1932 at the corner of Main and Long Streets. It served until 1982, a total of 50 years when it was retired because color-blind people could not decide whether it was red or green. It has a unique, futuristic design, looking somewhat like a silver football.
Since it was retired, it has been directing foot traffic at the Small Town Museum in Ashville. Until 2005, it was taken outside every year during the town’s annual 4th of July celebrations. But fears that it might be stolen ended that tradition and it has not left the Museum building since. It is still operating continuously in its Museum home, which also features the world’s largest scrap book.
The Museum’s director, Charlie Morrison, says that while other claimants have come forward to dispute Ashville’s claim for their traffic light as the world’s oldest continuously working example, they have not been able to prove their cases. So for now, at least, the Ashville traffic light is on record as the oldest working traffic light.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
The World’s Oldest Message in a Bottle
Captain Andrew Leaper was fishing off Scotland’s Shetland Islands when he found a glass bottle in his nets. There was a paper inside dated from 1914. The find has now been confirmed as the oldest known message in a bottle by the Guinness World Records. The bottle had survived at sea for nearly 98 years.
It turns out that the bottle was released in 1914 as part of a research project tracking sea currents around Scotland. The finder was asked to write down the date and location of its discovery and to send a postcard in return for a small reward. Of the 1,890 bottles released, 315 have since been found to date.
This new find eclipses the previous record-holder, which had been found in 2006. Oddly, that bottle was found by the same fishing boat. The fishing grounds where the bottle was found is very popular, with literally hundreds of boats plying the same waters. It appears that the boat, called Copious, is a lucky little vessel.
There’s more information on this story here
It turns out that the bottle was released in 1914 as part of a research project tracking sea currents around Scotland. The finder was asked to write down the date and location of its discovery and to send a postcard in return for a small reward. Of the 1,890 bottles released, 315 have since been found to date.
This new find eclipses the previous record-holder, which had been found in 2006. Oddly, that bottle was found by the same fishing boat. The fishing grounds where the bottle was found is very popular, with literally hundreds of boats plying the same waters. It appears that the boat, called Copious, is a lucky little vessel.
There’s more information on this story here
Thursday, November 8, 2012
The Oldest Settlement in Europe
The oldest settlement in Europe, so far at least, may present more questions than answers.
A team led by Vasil Nikolov of Bulgaria’s National Institute of Archaeology discovered thick stone walls near the town of Provadia, Bulgaria and have estimated that they were built somewhere between 6300 to 6800 years ago. These walls are 10 feet (3 meters) high and more than 6 feet (2 meters) thick, with a diameter of about 328 feet (100 meters). They enclosed a settlement of two-story houses and obviously served as a fortification, much like the walls of later castles and walled towns.
The team also discovered parts of a gate and a series of pits apparently constructed for ritual use. The walls and other artifacts were dated by radiocarbon testing.
Nikolev believes the settlement housed about 350 people who produced salt by boiling brine from nearby salt springs which was used for trade. During the town’s lifetime, salt was a valuable commodity and anyone who could produce it in any quantity found a ready market for it. Copper needles and pottery found in graves at the site indicate that the people of the town were relatively wealthy, which supports Nikolev’s theory.
Bulgaria is an archaeological hotspot with many prehistoric settlement mounds in addition to the remains of Greek, Roman and Byzantine settlements.
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The Provadia site does present some interesting problems, however. The houses were two stories high. Were there earlier settlements built of one-story dwellings which may have predated the two-story houses of Provadia? It would be a little odd if two-story buildings, which are much more difficult to build, actually were constructed before single-story homes.
The second question revolves around the wall itself. Was this location so dangerous that the people who lived there felt the need to construct that protective wall?
Nikolev’s team has been working at the site since 2005. Perhaps, as they expand their excavations, some of these questions will be answered.
There is a detailed report here
A team led by Vasil Nikolov of Bulgaria’s National Institute of Archaeology discovered thick stone walls near the town of Provadia, Bulgaria and have estimated that they were built somewhere between 6300 to 6800 years ago. These walls are 10 feet (3 meters) high and more than 6 feet (2 meters) thick, with a diameter of about 328 feet (100 meters). They enclosed a settlement of two-story houses and obviously served as a fortification, much like the walls of later castles and walled towns.
The team also discovered parts of a gate and a series of pits apparently constructed for ritual use. The walls and other artifacts were dated by radiocarbon testing.
Nikolev believes the settlement housed about 350 people who produced salt by boiling brine from nearby salt springs which was used for trade. During the town’s lifetime, salt was a valuable commodity and anyone who could produce it in any quantity found a ready market for it. Copper needles and pottery found in graves at the site indicate that the people of the town were relatively wealthy, which supports Nikolev’s theory.
Bulgaria is an archaeological hotspot with many prehistoric settlement mounds in addition to the remains of Greek, Roman and Byzantine settlements.
.
The Provadia site does present some interesting problems, however. The houses were two stories high. Were there earlier settlements built of one-story dwellings which may have predated the two-story houses of Provadia? It would be a little odd if two-story buildings, which are much more difficult to build, actually were constructed before single-story homes.
The second question revolves around the wall itself. Was this location so dangerous that the people who lived there felt the need to construct that protective wall?
Nikolev’s team has been working at the site since 2005. Perhaps, as they expand their excavations, some of these questions will be answered.
There is a detailed report here
Thursday, October 25, 2012
The World’s Oldest Ivory Workshop
An international team of scientists working at a mammoth hunting site called Breitenbach near Zeitz in Saxony-Anhalt has discovered what they believe is an organized workshop that produced ivory objects around 35,000 years ago. The site is open and massive, estimated at anywhere from about 6,000 square meters to as much as 20,000 meters. It was undoubtedly occupied by modern humans during the Aurignacian period (40,000-34,000 years ago).
The site has evidence of distinct working areas. In one, for example, pieces of ivory were split. There is a second area where pieces had been carved and waste discarded. The team found ivory beads and unfinished rough-outs in the debris. Other objects, including a decorated rod and fragments of what may have been a three-dimensional sculpture were also discovered.
The ivory these early "factory" workers used may have been from the remains of mammoths which had been hunted nearby, or might have died naturally. Close to 3,000 finds have been made in 2012 alone, even though the first archaeological excavations at the massive site were carried out in the 1920s.
Scientists investigating the site, believed to be one of the largest of its time, are excited about the possibility of gaining insights into the culture and organization of the people who lived and worked there during the Upper Paleolithic, and hope to find other examples of art, personal adornment, and perhaps even music. Naturally, they hope to find burials, which often shed much light on the social life and culture of the people who lived there
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There is a great deal of work still to be done at Breitenbach, and with a little luck, perhaps the researchers there will be able to add precious details to what we know about the Aurignacian people and their lifestyles.
There’s more information on the Breitenbach site here
If you're interested, I posted about the world's oldest ivory sculpture here
The site has evidence of distinct working areas. In one, for example, pieces of ivory were split. There is a second area where pieces had been carved and waste discarded. The team found ivory beads and unfinished rough-outs in the debris. Other objects, including a decorated rod and fragments of what may have been a three-dimensional sculpture were also discovered.
The ivory these early "factory" workers used may have been from the remains of mammoths which had been hunted nearby, or might have died naturally. Close to 3,000 finds have been made in 2012 alone, even though the first archaeological excavations at the massive site were carried out in the 1920s.
Scientists investigating the site, believed to be one of the largest of its time, are excited about the possibility of gaining insights into the culture and organization of the people who lived and worked there during the Upper Paleolithic, and hope to find other examples of art, personal adornment, and perhaps even music. Naturally, they hope to find burials, which often shed much light on the social life and culture of the people who lived there
.
There is a great deal of work still to be done at Breitenbach, and with a little luck, perhaps the researchers there will be able to add precious details to what we know about the Aurignacian people and their lifestyles.
There’s more information on the Breitenbach site here
If you're interested, I posted about the world's oldest ivory sculpture here
Thursday, October 18, 2012
The World’s Oldest Dinosaur Eggs
These may be the oldest eggs of any kind in the world today. They are probably somewhere around 190 million years old, and contain well preserved embryos.
The eggs, identified as those of a Massospondylus, a land dweller, were first found in 1976 in South Africa. This primitive animal is believed to be an ancestor of the brontosaurus. They were Prosauropods, which were the first species to diversify and become a widely spread group.
Because the eggs contained tiny embryo skeletons, scientists have been able to reconstruct what the babies might have looked like. Scientists say the babies looked very different from their parents. Unlike their parents, the tiny babies had relatively long legs and probably walked on all fours while they parents moved about on two legs. The embryos’ heads were also large compared to those of the adults, whose heads and necks were relatively small for their 16-foot (5 meter) tall bodies.
The small size and awkward body shape of the embryos, which were not quite ready to hatch and were only about 3/4 inch (20 cm) long, also suggest that the babies would have required care by their parents. If that is case, then these tiny embryos may show evidence of the world’s oldest known example of parental care.
If you’re interested in seeing pictures of the clutch of eggs and embryos, you can find them here
The eggs, identified as those of a Massospondylus, a land dweller, were first found in 1976 in South Africa. This primitive animal is believed to be an ancestor of the brontosaurus. They were Prosauropods, which were the first species to diversify and become a widely spread group.
Because the eggs contained tiny embryo skeletons, scientists have been able to reconstruct what the babies might have looked like. Scientists say the babies looked very different from their parents. Unlike their parents, the tiny babies had relatively long legs and probably walked on all fours while they parents moved about on two legs. The embryos’ heads were also large compared to those of the adults, whose heads and necks were relatively small for their 16-foot (5 meter) tall bodies.
The small size and awkward body shape of the embryos, which were not quite ready to hatch and were only about 3/4 inch (20 cm) long, also suggest that the babies would have required care by their parents. If that is case, then these tiny embryos may show evidence of the world’s oldest known example of parental care.
If you’re interested in seeing pictures of the clutch of eggs and embryos, you can find them here
Thursday, October 11, 2012
The World’s Oldest Skirt
Armenia’s Areni-1 cave is already known for the discovery of the world’s oldest leather shoes. Now it has produced another ancient garment. This time it is a skirt made of reeds and has been dated at 5,900 years old. It is now thought to be the oldest piece of reed clothing discovered to date.
The cave has been under investigation by a team of Irish, American and Armenian researchers since 2007. It has yielded numerous fascinating discoveries over the years, including the mummified remains of a goat that may be 5,900 years old, more than 1,000 years older than many of the famous mummified animals found in Egypt.
There’s more information about the skirt here
The cave has been under investigation by a team of Irish, American and Armenian researchers since 2007. It has yielded numerous fascinating discoveries over the years, including the mummified remains of a goat that may be 5,900 years old, more than 1,000 years older than many of the famous mummified animals found in Egypt.
There’s more information about the skirt here
Thursday, October 4, 2012
The Oldest House in Britain
This is not the oldest house in the world, but it is the oldest one found so far in Britain. Dated at 11,500 years old, the building was found at the Star Carr Site near Scarborough in North Yorkshire. It predates the previous "oldest house in Britain," located in Howick, Northumberland, by about 500 years. The archaeological team excavating the site also believes a nearby platform may be the oldest known example of carpentry in Europe.
The house was circular, and 3.5 meters (14.2 feet) in diameter, smaller than later iron age round houses. It was built of timber posts arranged around a sunken floor area. There is no way to tell how the walls and roof were finished, but it may have been thatched or covered by reeds, or a combination of reeds and animal hides. Sunken floors were not uncommon in ancient houses to take advantage of their ability to help regulate temperatures inside the structures.
The structure was dated by using a combination of radiocarbon tests and identification of the general types of tools found at the site. It may have been rebuilt several times, so it is possible that the original structure was somewhat older. In fact, the Star Carr site is believed to have been in use for somewhere between 200 and 500 years. There may also have been other houses at the site.
Since the original discovery of the site in the 1940s, several interesting finds have been reported. Archaeologists have reported finding arrow tips and masks made from red deer skulls. A boat paddle was retrieved, and several antler head-dresses which may have been used in rituals also turned up during the excavations conducted throughout the years. Another notable find was that of a tree, with its bark still intact, which was subsequently dated at about 11,000 years of age.
At the time the Yorkshire house was built, the planet was just recovering from the effects of the last Ice Age. Glaciers had retreated and Britain was still attached to continental Europe, so people were able to migrate back to the island. These people were still hunter-gatherers who made their living by gathering fruits, nuts, seeds and vegetables and by hunting game such as deer, elk, and boar with the help of domesticated dogs.
Our picture of hunter-gatherers is that of people almost constantly on the move in search of food and materials to make tools. So it is somewhat surprising to archaeologists that it appears the people living at the Star Carr site had a more-or-less permanent settlement that was inhabited for generations. The presence of the boat oar indicates that the people here may have fished and gathered edible shellfish at the nearby lake. We have no idea at this time what type of boats they might have used
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The Yorkshire site has changed our understanding of the lives of the so-called ‘nomadic’ hunter-gatherers. It also holds out the possibility that other sites may still exist which will help us to understand even more about the lives of our hunter-gatherer ancestors.
For more information about the Star Carr site, visit here
The house was circular, and 3.5 meters (14.2 feet) in diameter, smaller than later iron age round houses. It was built of timber posts arranged around a sunken floor area. There is no way to tell how the walls and roof were finished, but it may have been thatched or covered by reeds, or a combination of reeds and animal hides. Sunken floors were not uncommon in ancient houses to take advantage of their ability to help regulate temperatures inside the structures.
The structure was dated by using a combination of radiocarbon tests and identification of the general types of tools found at the site. It may have been rebuilt several times, so it is possible that the original structure was somewhat older. In fact, the Star Carr site is believed to have been in use for somewhere between 200 and 500 years. There may also have been other houses at the site.
Since the original discovery of the site in the 1940s, several interesting finds have been reported. Archaeologists have reported finding arrow tips and masks made from red deer skulls. A boat paddle was retrieved, and several antler head-dresses which may have been used in rituals also turned up during the excavations conducted throughout the years. Another notable find was that of a tree, with its bark still intact, which was subsequently dated at about 11,000 years of age.
At the time the Yorkshire house was built, the planet was just recovering from the effects of the last Ice Age. Glaciers had retreated and Britain was still attached to continental Europe, so people were able to migrate back to the island. These people were still hunter-gatherers who made their living by gathering fruits, nuts, seeds and vegetables and by hunting game such as deer, elk, and boar with the help of domesticated dogs.
Our picture of hunter-gatherers is that of people almost constantly on the move in search of food and materials to make tools. So it is somewhat surprising to archaeologists that it appears the people living at the Star Carr site had a more-or-less permanent settlement that was inhabited for generations. The presence of the boat oar indicates that the people here may have fished and gathered edible shellfish at the nearby lake. We have no idea at this time what type of boats they might have used
.
The Yorkshire site has changed our understanding of the lives of the so-called ‘nomadic’ hunter-gatherers. It also holds out the possibility that other sites may still exist which will help us to understand even more about the lives of our hunter-gatherer ancestors.
For more information about the Star Carr site, visit here
Thursday, September 27, 2012
The World’s Oldest Dugout Canoe
The world’s oldest surviving dugout canoe was found in 1955 near the village of Pesse in the Netherlands. Like so many otherwise fragile artifacts, this boat was preserved in a peat bog. It was found over 6 feet (2 meters) below the surface by a crane operator working on the Dutch A28 motorway. The crane operator believed it was a tree trunk, but a local farmer noticed it and took it away for study. He gave it to the University of Groningen, where it was examined and preserved. Eventually, it found its way to the Drents Museum in Assen, Netherlands.
Carbon dating indicates that the boat was constructed somewhere between 11,000 and 9,500 years ago. It is nearly 10 feet (3 meters) long and 17 inches (44 centimeters) wide, and was made from a single scotch pine log. Scrape marks in the interior may have been made by either flint or antler scrapers and adzes.
A replica of the canoe was constructed by Dutch archaeologist Jaap Beuker. A canoeist successfully launched and paddled the little boat. The canoe is very similar to other prehistoric boats found elsewhere.
While some have argued that the boat might in fact have been a feed trough for domestic animals, Beuker says that animals were not kept by the people of that era, so it is unlikely to have been used to feed animals. The canoe is also very similar to other prehistoric boats found elsewhere in the world, although it is much older than the others.
Carbon dating indicates that the boat was constructed somewhere between 11,000 and 9,500 years ago. It is nearly 10 feet (3 meters) long and 17 inches (44 centimeters) wide, and was made from a single scotch pine log. Scrape marks in the interior may have been made by either flint or antler scrapers and adzes.
A replica of the canoe was constructed by Dutch archaeologist Jaap Beuker. A canoeist successfully launched and paddled the little boat. The canoe is very similar to other prehistoric boats found elsewhere.
While some have argued that the boat might in fact have been a feed trough for domestic animals, Beuker says that animals were not kept by the people of that era, so it is unlikely to have been used to feed animals. The canoe is also very similar to other prehistoric boats found elsewhere in the world, although it is much older than the others.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
World’s Oldest Written Recipe (and it’s for Beer!)
This is a very special recipe on several different levels. First, at 4,000 years old, it’s the oldest known written recipe. Second, it was handed down by a god.
Although the recipe was said to have been given to men by the Sumerian god Enki, the written version was found contained in a hymn dedicated to the beer goddess Ninkasi. Beer was the national fermented drink of ancient Babylonia.
In the beginning, beer was probably an accidental by-product of the bread making process. Ancient Sumerians preserved grain by baking it, usually in the form of bread. When this bread got wet, it fermented into a kind of liquid beer. Over time, honey and other spices were used to flavor the brew. The resulting beer was strong. It was also full of pieces of bread and other more or less solid materials, making it a hard to drink. The Sumerians’ solution was to drink their beer through a straw.
Beer was so important in the ancient world that laws were passed governing it. Beer was even part of the pay of workers in Mesopotamia, Egypt and other ancient civilizations. The Babylonians are known to have made at least sixteen different kinds of beer and used a variety of grains, including barley and wheat, along with honey. Beer was also mentioned in the Egyptian Book of the Dead.
If you’d like the recipe, you can find it here
Although the recipe was said to have been given to men by the Sumerian god Enki, the written version was found contained in a hymn dedicated to the beer goddess Ninkasi. Beer was the national fermented drink of ancient Babylonia.
In the beginning, beer was probably an accidental by-product of the bread making process. Ancient Sumerians preserved grain by baking it, usually in the form of bread. When this bread got wet, it fermented into a kind of liquid beer. Over time, honey and other spices were used to flavor the brew. The resulting beer was strong. It was also full of pieces of bread and other more or less solid materials, making it a hard to drink. The Sumerians’ solution was to drink their beer through a straw.
Beer was so important in the ancient world that laws were passed governing it. Beer was even part of the pay of workers in Mesopotamia, Egypt and other ancient civilizations. The Babylonians are known to have made at least sixteen different kinds of beer and used a variety of grains, including barley and wheat, along with honey. Beer was also mentioned in the Egyptian Book of the Dead.
If you’d like the recipe, you can find it here
Thursday, September 13, 2012
The World's Oldest Brassieres
There’s a phrase in the Bible that says, "There is no new thing under the sun." It seems that this saying applies to women’s undergarments.
The first modern bra was patented in the early 1800s as a replacement for the stiff corsets that were fashionable at the time. Mary Phelps Jacob, a New York socialite, is generally credited as the inventor of the modern bra. As it turns out, women were wearing bras way back in the Middle Ages, at least 600 years ago.
Archaeologists working in 2008 in an ancient castle in Austria discovered four linen bras, including one with a surprisingly modern look. Researchers did not report their finds until they had been able to verify the age of the garments through radiocarbon dating and historical research.
The bras were only a part of a veritable treasure trove consisting of over 2,700 textile fragments that were found mixed with dirt, wood and strong. Some of the textiles were made of a linen-cotton combination, reminiscent of modern blended textiles. The bras were decorated with lace and other ornamentation, and featured wide shoulder straps, with indications that they were held in place with back straps.
One puzzle that remains is the question of why bras were replaced by the more cumbersome, uncomfortable corsets that remained a mainstay of women’s undergarments until the bra was reinvented. One theory is that a desire for a "tiny" waist forced women to adopt the corset, which often had stays made of whalebone or other heavy, stiff materials. These were sometimes laced so tightly that they literally displaced the internal organs of their wearers.
These ancient bras may not prove that there is no new thing under the sun, but they do show that good ideas have a way of coming back more than once.
If you’d like to see a picture of one of the Austrian bras, visit here
The first modern bra was patented in the early 1800s as a replacement for the stiff corsets that were fashionable at the time. Mary Phelps Jacob, a New York socialite, is generally credited as the inventor of the modern bra. As it turns out, women were wearing bras way back in the Middle Ages, at least 600 years ago.
Archaeologists working in 2008 in an ancient castle in Austria discovered four linen bras, including one with a surprisingly modern look. Researchers did not report their finds until they had been able to verify the age of the garments through radiocarbon dating and historical research.
The bras were only a part of a veritable treasure trove consisting of over 2,700 textile fragments that were found mixed with dirt, wood and strong. Some of the textiles were made of a linen-cotton combination, reminiscent of modern blended textiles. The bras were decorated with lace and other ornamentation, and featured wide shoulder straps, with indications that they were held in place with back straps.
One puzzle that remains is the question of why bras were replaced by the more cumbersome, uncomfortable corsets that remained a mainstay of women’s undergarments until the bra was reinvented. One theory is that a desire for a "tiny" waist forced women to adopt the corset, which often had stays made of whalebone or other heavy, stiff materials. These were sometimes laced so tightly that they literally displaced the internal organs of their wearers.
These ancient bras may not prove that there is no new thing under the sun, but they do show that good ideas have a way of coming back more than once.
If you’d like to see a picture of one of the Austrian bras, visit here
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
The World’s Oldest Shark Nursery
Sharks have long been known as an ancient form of marine life. But it is difficult to find much information about the oldest sharks since they have few bones. Ordinarily, the only evidence they usually leave behind are a few teeth. Then researchers working at a site in southwestern Kyrgyzstan discovered evidence of what is currently the world’s oldest shark nursery. One of the surprises is that these sharks were born in a shallow freshwater lake around 230 million years ago.
Researchers recovered about 60 tiny teeth belonging to baby sharks called hybodontids, along with fossilized egg capsules. Some experts believe that the sharks spawned in fresh water after traveling upriver from the ocean in the same way that modern salmon return to freshwater rivers after spending most of their lives at sea.
Study leader Jan Fischer of the Geologisches Institute at TU Bergakademie Freiberg in Germany, has suggested the possibility that these sharks spent their entire lives in lakes and rivers. He believes that the distance ocean-dwelling sharks would have had to travel upriver makes the idea of spawning migrations from the ocean improbable.
There are more than 400 species of sharks in the world today. Nearly all of them live in oceans. But there are five species of freshwater sharks living in rivers and lakes in Australia, New Guinea, various locations in Southeast Asia, and India. They are rare and not much is known about them. Some can grow to around 9 feet (3 meters) in length, although very few large sharks have been found. Unfortunately, all five species are currently endangered due to pollution, fishing, and other human-caused circumstances.
For more information on the Triassic-era shark fossils, visit here
For more information about modern freshwater sharks, go here
Researchers recovered about 60 tiny teeth belonging to baby sharks called hybodontids, along with fossilized egg capsules. Some experts believe that the sharks spawned in fresh water after traveling upriver from the ocean in the same way that modern salmon return to freshwater rivers after spending most of their lives at sea.
Study leader Jan Fischer of the Geologisches Institute at TU Bergakademie Freiberg in Germany, has suggested the possibility that these sharks spent their entire lives in lakes and rivers. He believes that the distance ocean-dwelling sharks would have had to travel upriver makes the idea of spawning migrations from the ocean improbable.
There are more than 400 species of sharks in the world today. Nearly all of them live in oceans. But there are five species of freshwater sharks living in rivers and lakes in Australia, New Guinea, various locations in Southeast Asia, and India. They are rare and not much is known about them. Some can grow to around 9 feet (3 meters) in length, although very few large sharks have been found. Unfortunately, all five species are currently endangered due to pollution, fishing, and other human-caused circumstances.
For more information on the Triassic-era shark fossils, visit here
For more information about modern freshwater sharks, go here
Thursday, August 23, 2012
The World’s Oldest Sandals
The world’s oldest sandals are also the world’s oldest surviving shoes of any type. And unlike most of the "world’s oldest stuff," which are mostly found in Europe, Asia, and Africa, these sandals were found in Oregon in the United States.
They were actually found in 1930 in a cave in Oregon’s arid Great Basin. About 70 pair were found in an exceptional state of preservation. They were woven from sagebrush bark and other fibers. Remarkably, the oldest sandals were found below a volcanic ash deposit created by the explosion of Mt. Mazama about 7600 years ago. Early radiocarbon dating tests placed the age of some of the sandals at more than 10,000 years old.
Then, in November 1999, international expert Petr Hlavacek of the Technical University in the Czech Republic visited the collection, housed in the Museum of Natural History in Eugene, Oregon. After studying the shoes, Hlavacek announced that the sandals were the oldest known shoes in the world.
Most of the sandals were heavily caked with mud. Researchers believe that this represents evidence that the now dry desert in the Great Basin was once home to a gigantic lake with associated marsh. They have also changed some thoughts about life in the ancient New World. For example, estimates of how long ago the first humans made their homes in the Northwestern part of the United States have now been doubled.
The shoes had all been worn, and came in a wide variety of sizes ranging from those made for young children to much larger types which would have been worn by men. Known as the Fort Rock sandals, it appears that this style of sandal was made from about 10,200 to 9,300 years ago.
A few pairs of these ancient sandals are on display at Oregon’s Museum of Natural History. The rest are stored in a climate-controlled repository where they can be preserved and made available for research.
The University of Oregon has set up an extensive website dedicated to these sandals, along with several photographs of these well-preserved artifacts. You can visit the website here
They were actually found in 1930 in a cave in Oregon’s arid Great Basin. About 70 pair were found in an exceptional state of preservation. They were woven from sagebrush bark and other fibers. Remarkably, the oldest sandals were found below a volcanic ash deposit created by the explosion of Mt. Mazama about 7600 years ago. Early radiocarbon dating tests placed the age of some of the sandals at more than 10,000 years old.
Then, in November 1999, international expert Petr Hlavacek of the Technical University in the Czech Republic visited the collection, housed in the Museum of Natural History in Eugene, Oregon. After studying the shoes, Hlavacek announced that the sandals were the oldest known shoes in the world.
Most of the sandals were heavily caked with mud. Researchers believe that this represents evidence that the now dry desert in the Great Basin was once home to a gigantic lake with associated marsh. They have also changed some thoughts about life in the ancient New World. For example, estimates of how long ago the first humans made their homes in the Northwestern part of the United States have now been doubled.
The shoes had all been worn, and came in a wide variety of sizes ranging from those made for young children to much larger types which would have been worn by men. Known as the Fort Rock sandals, it appears that this style of sandal was made from about 10,200 to 9,300 years ago.
A few pairs of these ancient sandals are on display at Oregon’s Museum of Natural History. The rest are stored in a climate-controlled repository where they can be preserved and made available for research.
The University of Oregon has set up an extensive website dedicated to these sandals, along with several photographs of these well-preserved artifacts. You can visit the website here
Thursday, August 16, 2012
The World’s Oldest Pottery
Up to now, pottery was believed to be a product of that "magical" period around 10,000 years ago when modern civilization began to spring up seemingly out of nowhere. But 20,000-year-old pottery fragments found in China have now upset that theory. (The findings are also causing me to rewrite a portion of my book.)
The pottery fragments were found in a cave called Xianrendong in the Jiangxi province located in south China. The cave was first excavated in the 1960s and further investigated in the 1990s. The fragments were actually dated by 2009, but researchers waited to announce their findings until they determined that the sediments in the cave had not been disturbed in a way that might have skewed the results. They also dated bone and charcoal samples from above and below the pottery fragments to further ensure that their findings were accurate.
Before this discovery and a few others, including simple clay pots found in the Middle East and dated to about 14,500 years ago, experts believed that pottery-making was part of the so-called Neolithic Revolution. Farming is thought to have begun around 11,000 to 13,000 years ago, but before then, people lived as hunter-gatherers. Pottery would have been cumbersome to nomadic peoples, partly because it is heavier than baskets, and partly because it is fragile and easily broken. Today’s surviving nomads, for example, rarely make use of clay pots.
Baked clay products actually date back to at least 30,000 years ago, however. People made small plaques and figurines out of clay which were baked in campfires. These could be easily transported as the people moved from place to place. Many of these little figurines were found in caves along with the famous cave paintings in France. There is no evidence yet, however, that anyone was making pots or other clay utensils that long ago.
For more information about the possible implications of this find and a few pictures of pottery fragments, visit here
The pottery fragments were found in a cave called Xianrendong in the Jiangxi province located in south China. The cave was first excavated in the 1960s and further investigated in the 1990s. The fragments were actually dated by 2009, but researchers waited to announce their findings until they determined that the sediments in the cave had not been disturbed in a way that might have skewed the results. They also dated bone and charcoal samples from above and below the pottery fragments to further ensure that their findings were accurate.
Before this discovery and a few others, including simple clay pots found in the Middle East and dated to about 14,500 years ago, experts believed that pottery-making was part of the so-called Neolithic Revolution. Farming is thought to have begun around 11,000 to 13,000 years ago, but before then, people lived as hunter-gatherers. Pottery would have been cumbersome to nomadic peoples, partly because it is heavier than baskets, and partly because it is fragile and easily broken. Today’s surviving nomads, for example, rarely make use of clay pots.
Baked clay products actually date back to at least 30,000 years ago, however. People made small plaques and figurines out of clay which were baked in campfires. These could be easily transported as the people moved from place to place. Many of these little figurines were found in caves along with the famous cave paintings in France. There is no evidence yet, however, that anyone was making pots or other clay utensils that long ago.
For more information about the possible implications of this find and a few pictures of pottery fragments, visit here
Monday, July 30, 2012
The World’s Oldest Meteorite Crater
The world’s oldest meteorite crater is really, really old - 3 billion years old, in fact. And when the 19-mile (30 km) wide meteorite landed on what is now Greenland, it made the biggest crater on earth.
The original crater has been estimated by researchers to have been about 310 miles (500 km) wide, but since the land has eroded since then, it currently measures only about 62 miles (100 km) across. The team led by Danish researcher Adam Garde of the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland found crushed rocks in a circular shape and deposits of potassium-feldspar that could only have been liquified by extremely high heat.
Only about 180 impact craters have been discovered on earth, although our planet was likely to have had as many craters as the moon. Most have been destroyed, however, by such processes as plate tectonics, and even wind and rain erosion.
The discovery of this giant crater has sparked a gold rush of sorts. One-third of the impact craters contain significant deposits which include precious metals such as gold, nickel, and other metals, along with valuable minerals, and a Canadian mining company is already exploring the region for mineable deposits.
The previous record for the oldest crater was generally believed to be South Africa’s Vredefort crater. This crater is the largest visible crater in the world, but is believed to be only about 2 billion years old.
For more information, go here
The original crater has been estimated by researchers to have been about 310 miles (500 km) wide, but since the land has eroded since then, it currently measures only about 62 miles (100 km) across. The team led by Danish researcher Adam Garde of the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland found crushed rocks in a circular shape and deposits of potassium-feldspar that could only have been liquified by extremely high heat.
Only about 180 impact craters have been discovered on earth, although our planet was likely to have had as many craters as the moon. Most have been destroyed, however, by such processes as plate tectonics, and even wind and rain erosion.
The discovery of this giant crater has sparked a gold rush of sorts. One-third of the impact craters contain significant deposits which include precious metals such as gold, nickel, and other metals, along with valuable minerals, and a Canadian mining company is already exploring the region for mineable deposits.
The previous record for the oldest crater was generally believed to be South Africa’s Vredefort crater. This crater is the largest visible crater in the world, but is believed to be only about 2 billion years old.
For more information, go here
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Were Horses Tamed Only 5,500 Years Ago?
Evidence from Kazakhstan indicates that the people known as Botai were the first to domesticate horses about 5,500 years ago. This late development is somewhat surprising since dogs, sheep, goats and pigs had been tamed much earlier as people made the transition from hunting and gathering to farming and animal husbandry.
The research team, led by Alan Outram of England’s University of Exeter, used three separate lines of research to confirm their findings. They found that the jaws of the horses found at the site showed marks on the teeth resembling those of modern horses caused by bits. Their leg bones were more slender than those of their wild cousins, indicating that people had been selectively breeding them. And analysis of the remains of ancient pots found at the site shows that at least some had once contained mare’s milk.
Domestication of the horse led to profound changes in human culture. Not only were they a source of meat and milk, but they opened new ways of transporting people and goods over longer distances. Domesticated horses made major contributions not only to farming and animal husbandry, but became valuable allies in war. Even today, especially in the regions of Kazakhstan and the Central Asian steppes, the horse remains an integral part of the local cultures.
For more about the horses of Kazakhstan go here
There is new information, however, that people living at a site known today as al-Maqar in the Arabian Peninsula may have domesticated horses around 9,000 years ago, or 4,000 years earlier than the Botai. Information is scanty so far, but the continued work at the site may be worth watching. Some information on the al-Maqar site may be found at this location.
The research team, led by Alan Outram of England’s University of Exeter, used three separate lines of research to confirm their findings. They found that the jaws of the horses found at the site showed marks on the teeth resembling those of modern horses caused by bits. Their leg bones were more slender than those of their wild cousins, indicating that people had been selectively breeding them. And analysis of the remains of ancient pots found at the site shows that at least some had once contained mare’s milk.
Domestication of the horse led to profound changes in human culture. Not only were they a source of meat and milk, but they opened new ways of transporting people and goods over longer distances. Domesticated horses made major contributions not only to farming and animal husbandry, but became valuable allies in war. Even today, especially in the regions of Kazakhstan and the Central Asian steppes, the horse remains an integral part of the local cultures.
For more about the horses of Kazakhstan go here
There is new information, however, that people living at a site known today as al-Maqar in the Arabian Peninsula may have domesticated horses around 9,000 years ago, or 4,000 years earlier than the Botai. Information is scanty so far, but the continued work at the site may be worth watching. Some information on the al-Maqar site may be found at this location.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Egypt’s Oldest Rock Art
When we think of Egypt, we think of the mighty civilization that arose with the pharaohs around 5500 years ago. The iconic art of Egypt also was thought to have developed around the same time, seeming to emerge full-blown without any sort of development phase.
But in July of 2007, engravings were found carved on sandstone cliff faces at the village of Quarts, about 400 miles (640 km) south of Cairo. Actually, they were rediscovered. They were originally found in 1962 by an expedition led by Philip Smith and a group from the University of Toronto, Canada. At the time, Smith suggested that the figures were carved some time before 10,000 years ago. His theory was roundly discredited, and he later abandoned it in later years. Now, finally, he has been proven right by the 2007 expedition led by Dirk Huyge, curator of the Egyptian Collection at the Royal Museums of Art and History in Brussels, Belgium.
The panels date back to about 15,000 years ago, which makes them contemporary to many of the artworks of Lescaux, France and Altamira in Spain. Not only that, but there are several striking similarities between the Egyptian engravings and those in Europe. For example, the cave paintings and engravings at Lascaux are best known for images of cows and bulls, and a large number of the Egyptian carvings also depict cattle. In addition, the European and Egyptian art works are stylistically very similar. Huyge carefully pointed out, however, that this does not mean that Egyptians created the art in Lascaux or Altamira, or that European artists created the Egyptian panels.
The Egyptian engravings are scattered over a one mile long (1.66 km) stretch of cliffs measuring about 230 feet (70 meters) tall. The 2007 expedition discovered several additional panels of artwork that had not been found by the 1962 expedition. And Huyge expects that more art will be found in North Africa. He also believes that some will be found to be even older than the Qurta panels.
To learn more, visit
But in July of 2007, engravings were found carved on sandstone cliff faces at the village of Quarts, about 400 miles (640 km) south of Cairo. Actually, they were rediscovered. They were originally found in 1962 by an expedition led by Philip Smith and a group from the University of Toronto, Canada. At the time, Smith suggested that the figures were carved some time before 10,000 years ago. His theory was roundly discredited, and he later abandoned it in later years. Now, finally, he has been proven right by the 2007 expedition led by Dirk Huyge, curator of the Egyptian Collection at the Royal Museums of Art and History in Brussels, Belgium.
The panels date back to about 15,000 years ago, which makes them contemporary to many of the artworks of Lescaux, France and Altamira in Spain. Not only that, but there are several striking similarities between the Egyptian engravings and those in Europe. For example, the cave paintings and engravings at Lascaux are best known for images of cows and bulls, and a large number of the Egyptian carvings also depict cattle. In addition, the European and Egyptian art works are stylistically very similar. Huyge carefully pointed out, however, that this does not mean that Egyptians created the art in Lascaux or Altamira, or that European artists created the Egyptian panels.
The Egyptian engravings are scattered over a one mile long (1.66 km) stretch of cliffs measuring about 230 feet (70 meters) tall. The 2007 expedition discovered several additional panels of artwork that had not been found by the 1962 expedition. And Huyge expects that more art will be found in North Africa. He also believes that some will be found to be even older than the Qurta panels.
To learn more, visit
Saturday, July 7, 2012
The World’s Oldest Ivory Sculpture
A carving of a reclining, voluptuous woman found in Germany’s Hohle Fels cave is dated to 35,000 years old is, for now at least, the world’s oldest ivory sculpture of a human figure.
Discovered in 2009, the little sculpture is about 2.4 inches (6 centimeters) long and has no head or feet. It bears a remarkable resemblance to the famous Venus figurines which have been found from the Pyrenees mountains to as far east as southern Russia, although those sculptures only date to about 25,000 to 29,000 years ago.
The little figurine was found in six fragments and has a loop near where the head should be. The left arm is missing but its discoverers hope to find it during further excavation work in the cave. It was likely designed to be worn as a pendant.
Because of the close resemblance between this ancient Venus and the hundreds of younger examples found across Europe, some experts believe it may represent the early beginnings of the "goddess" tradition which continued for many thousands of years. Others believe that since so much time had passed between the Hohle Fels sculpture and the much later figurines, the Hohle Fels sculpture is probably not related by tradition to the younger examples.
Hohle Fels cave and other nearby caves have yielded a variety of rich archaeological treasures, including carved ivory beads and pendants, along with other small ivory carvings of mammoths, bison, lions, horses and birds, along with two half-animal, half human figures.
If you’d like to see a few pictures of this little gem, go here
Discovered in 2009, the little sculpture is about 2.4 inches (6 centimeters) long and has no head or feet. It bears a remarkable resemblance to the famous Venus figurines which have been found from the Pyrenees mountains to as far east as southern Russia, although those sculptures only date to about 25,000 to 29,000 years ago.
The little figurine was found in six fragments and has a loop near where the head should be. The left arm is missing but its discoverers hope to find it during further excavation work in the cave. It was likely designed to be worn as a pendant.
Because of the close resemblance between this ancient Venus and the hundreds of younger examples found across Europe, some experts believe it may represent the early beginnings of the "goddess" tradition which continued for many thousands of years. Others believe that since so much time had passed between the Hohle Fels sculpture and the much later figurines, the Hohle Fels sculpture is probably not related by tradition to the younger examples.
Hohle Fels cave and other nearby caves have yielded a variety of rich archaeological treasures, including carved ivory beads and pendants, along with other small ivory carvings of mammoths, bison, lions, horses and birds, along with two half-animal, half human figures.
If you’d like to see a few pictures of this little gem, go here
Monday, July 2, 2012
Pavlopetri - The World’s Oldest Known Sunken Town
The ancient Mycenean city of Pavlopetri isn’t as old as some of the artifacts I’ve found, but it is unusual in that it is a planned and organized town with buildings, streets, courtyards, tombs and religious structures. It is about 5,000 years old, which is causing some to wonder whether it may in fact have been the real-life model for Homer’s lost city of Atlantis.
The sunken city lies on the ocean floor off the southern Peloponnesse near the town of Neapolis and is believed to have sunk around 1000 BC. Currently, it is known to occupy about 30,000 square meters of ocean floor. It was originally discovered in 1967 by a British oceanographer, but was finally properly surveyed by marine archaeologists with the aid of digital technology. It is believed to have sunk into the water when three earthquake episodes pushed the ground down, taking the town with it.
Remains found at the site have been dated from 2800 to 1200 BC, and include thousands of pottery sherds dating back to the end of the stone age. The richness of detail found in the remains of the town will keep archaeologists and anthropologists busy for years and will provide unprecedented insight into the lives and culture of the Mycenean people.
The site is only 3 to 4 meters deep in relatively clear water and can be accessed by divers using snorkels or air tanks. It is protected by Greece.
If you’re interested in in-depth information on Pavlopetri, go here and here
The sunken city lies on the ocean floor off the southern Peloponnesse near the town of Neapolis and is believed to have sunk around 1000 BC. Currently, it is known to occupy about 30,000 square meters of ocean floor. It was originally discovered in 1967 by a British oceanographer, but was finally properly surveyed by marine archaeologists with the aid of digital technology. It is believed to have sunk into the water when three earthquake episodes pushed the ground down, taking the town with it.
Remains found at the site have been dated from 2800 to 1200 BC, and include thousands of pottery sherds dating back to the end of the stone age. The richness of detail found in the remains of the town will keep archaeologists and anthropologists busy for years and will provide unprecedented insight into the lives and culture of the Mycenean people.
The site is only 3 to 4 meters deep in relatively clear water and can be accessed by divers using snorkels or air tanks. It is protected by Greece.
If you’re interested in in-depth information on Pavlopetri, go here and here
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
The World’s Oldest Leather Shoe
The world’s oldest leather shoes were, until recently, the pair found with the body of Ötzi, the famous Iceman, dated at about 5,300 years ago. But a cave in Armenia has yielded a leather shoe that is about 200 years older than Ötzi’s footwear.
The shoe, actually more of a moccasin, appears to be made of cowhide cut in a single piece and laced together with leather thongs. It is relatively small (U.S. women’s size 7 or a European size 37), and may have been worn by a woman, a small man, or a teenager.
The shoe is remarkably similar to footwear worn until the 1950s in the Aran Islands west of Ireland, and also to a traditional Balkan shoe known as an opanke, which is still worn as part of traditional costumes worn at regional festivals. Researchers say that nearly identical shoes were worn across Europe over the course of thousands of years.
The shoe is currently housed at the Institute of Archaeology in Yerevan, but may be sent to either Switzerland or Germany to be properly preserved and then returned to Armenia.
Strictly speaking, while this shoe, along with Ötzi’s shoe, are the oldest still in existence at this time, there is evidence based on the weakening of small toe bones in ancient fossils that indicate humans may have been wearing shoes as long as 40,000 years ago. It is highly unlikely, however, that shoes that old would have survived, so for the time being, at least, the Armenian shoes hold the record as the world’s oldest leather shoes.
For more information, go here
The shoe, actually more of a moccasin, appears to be made of cowhide cut in a single piece and laced together with leather thongs. It is relatively small (U.S. women’s size 7 or a European size 37), and may have been worn by a woman, a small man, or a teenager.
The shoe is remarkably similar to footwear worn until the 1950s in the Aran Islands west of Ireland, and also to a traditional Balkan shoe known as an opanke, which is still worn as part of traditional costumes worn at regional festivals. Researchers say that nearly identical shoes were worn across Europe over the course of thousands of years.
The shoe is currently housed at the Institute of Archaeology in Yerevan, but may be sent to either Switzerland or Germany to be properly preserved and then returned to Armenia.
Strictly speaking, while this shoe, along with Ötzi’s shoe, are the oldest still in existence at this time, there is evidence based on the weakening of small toe bones in ancient fossils that indicate humans may have been wearing shoes as long as 40,000 years ago. It is highly unlikely, however, that shoes that old would have survived, so for the time being, at least, the Armenian shoes hold the record as the world’s oldest leather shoes.
For more information, go here
Friday, June 8, 2012
World’s Oldest (Still Burning) Neon Light
Somebody forgot to turn out the light. Then they built a wall that covered it up. That was more than 70 years ago.
It might have stayed hidden forever, but the new owner of the fabled Clifton’s Cafeteria in Los Angeles, California decided to undertake a massive restoration of the old building. There, behind a wall in the first floor women’s restroom, workmen removed a panel and discovered the bulb. To everyone’s surprise, it was still burning.
The new owner, Andrew Meieran, believes the light was installed in 1935 when the building was being re-decorated as a forest-themed restaurant. Neon panels were installed to light translucent forest murals throughout the restaurant, including the restrooms.
At some point in the restaurant’s history, the restroom was partitioned in order to create a storage area. The light’s nook was covered over in plastic and plywood, then forgotten. Now that it has been rediscovered, Mr. Meieran plans to place a replica transparency over it.
Experts say that neon lights rarely survive for more than 40 years, and agree that this particular light may be the oldest of its kind in the world. Mr. Meieran speculates that the hidden bulb may have cost as much as $17,000 over the estimated 77 years of its life.
If you’d like to see a great series of photos of the light and learn a little more about the history of Clifton’s Cafeteria, visit here
It might have stayed hidden forever, but the new owner of the fabled Clifton’s Cafeteria in Los Angeles, California decided to undertake a massive restoration of the old building. There, behind a wall in the first floor women’s restroom, workmen removed a panel and discovered the bulb. To everyone’s surprise, it was still burning.
The new owner, Andrew Meieran, believes the light was installed in 1935 when the building was being re-decorated as a forest-themed restaurant. Neon panels were installed to light translucent forest murals throughout the restaurant, including the restrooms.
At some point in the restaurant’s history, the restroom was partitioned in order to create a storage area. The light’s nook was covered over in plastic and plywood, then forgotten. Now that it has been rediscovered, Mr. Meieran plans to place a replica transparency over it.
Experts say that neon lights rarely survive for more than 40 years, and agree that this particular light may be the oldest of its kind in the world. Mr. Meieran speculates that the hidden bulb may have cost as much as $17,000 over the estimated 77 years of its life.
If you’d like to see a great series of photos of the light and learn a little more about the history of Clifton’s Cafeteria, visit here
Monday, May 28, 2012
The World’s Oldest Musical Instruments
Somewhere between 35,000 and 40,000 years ago, someone in what is now Germany was producing and playing flutes made from the bones of large birds. And even more remarkably, they were also creating flutes made from sections of mammoth ivory carefully fitted together in such a way that the resulting tube was airtight.
So far, a total of eight flutes have been found. Four were made from the wing bones of swans and griffon vultures, and another four were created using sections of ivory, presumably from mammoth tusks. The most complete remains indicate that this particular flute would have been about 14 inches (34 centimeters) long and had five finger holes carved with stone tools. There were two notches at the playing end to allow the musician to blow into the hollow tube. One of the bird bone flutes had only three finger holes, but a replica demonstrated that it was capable of making four distinct notes and at least three overtones.
Even more impressive are the ivory flutes, which display a surprisingly sophisticated technology. Mammoth tusks are curved, but the flute-maker knew how to straighten the ivory into straight segments, which were cut into sections. The flute-maker then drilled finger holes into the sections and carefully refitted the sections, creating airtight seals. These flutes are smaller than those made with bird bones, but in both cases, the knowledge needed to make the instruments was very sophisticated indeed.
Bear in mind, though, that our ancestors might have been beating sticks or bones together, banging on logs, or even clapping their hands to create rhythms long before these flutes were created. And, of course, since these ancient instruments are obviously not the first of their kind to be created, flute-making may possibly extend several thousand years before they were made. We just don’t know.
So far, a total of eight flutes have been found. Four were made from the wing bones of swans and griffon vultures, and another four were created using sections of ivory, presumably from mammoth tusks. The most complete remains indicate that this particular flute would have been about 14 inches (34 centimeters) long and had five finger holes carved with stone tools. There were two notches at the playing end to allow the musician to blow into the hollow tube. One of the bird bone flutes had only three finger holes, but a replica demonstrated that it was capable of making four distinct notes and at least three overtones.
Even more impressive are the ivory flutes, which display a surprisingly sophisticated technology. Mammoth tusks are curved, but the flute-maker knew how to straighten the ivory into straight segments, which were cut into sections. The flute-maker then drilled finger holes into the sections and carefully refitted the sections, creating airtight seals. These flutes are smaller than those made with bird bones, but in both cases, the knowledge needed to make the instruments was very sophisticated indeed.
Bear in mind, though, that our ancestors might have been beating sticks or bones together, banging on logs, or even clapping their hands to create rhythms long before these flutes were created. And, of course, since these ancient instruments are obviously not the first of their kind to be created, flute-making may possibly extend several thousand years before they were made. We just don’t know.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
The World’s Oldest Man-Made Fiber
A team of archaeologists analyzing clay samples for tree pollen in Dzudzuana Cave in the Republic of Georgia made a surprising discovery: The oldest flax fibers made by humans. And there were quite a few of them, nearly 800 in all.
The fibers are more than 34,000 years old. Previously, the oldest known evidence for fiber-making was found at the 28,000-year-old site of Dolni Vestonice in the Czech Republic.
These fibers are not evidence for early farming, since flax grew wild in the area. But they do indicate that the people living in the cave were already experienced in gathering and working with the fibers, possibly to make thread for sewing, or even to weave cloth or other textiles. Some of the fibers appear to have been dyed in various colors such as yellow, green, blue, violet, red and black. For some, this means that the people who occupied the cave might have been producing colorful fabrics.
These fibers give us evidence that people had been using plant fibers to make thread, ropes and twines for some time before they themselves were created. Because plant remains are so rarely preserved, it may be some time before earlier samples are discovered.
Photos and more information on this important discovery can be found here
The fibers are more than 34,000 years old. Previously, the oldest known evidence for fiber-making was found at the 28,000-year-old site of Dolni Vestonice in the Czech Republic.
These fibers are not evidence for early farming, since flax grew wild in the area. But they do indicate that the people living in the cave were already experienced in gathering and working with the fibers, possibly to make thread for sewing, or even to weave cloth or other textiles. Some of the fibers appear to have been dyed in various colors such as yellow, green, blue, violet, red and black. For some, this means that the people who occupied the cave might have been producing colorful fabrics.
These fibers give us evidence that people had been using plant fibers to make thread, ropes and twines for some time before they themselves were created. Because plant remains are so rarely preserved, it may be some time before earlier samples are discovered.
Photos and more information on this important discovery can be found here
Sunday, April 29, 2012
The World’s Oldest Campfire
Some of our ancient relatives may have been using fire for at least a million years, and probably longer.
When scientists used microscope analysis to study plant ash and charred bone fragments from the famous Wonderwerk Cave in South Africa, they discovered that the remains were about a million years old. They also concluded that the materials were burned inside the cave rather than being carried there by wind or water. The debris was found alongside stone tools, suggesting that humans had built the fire.
Some scientists believe that early man’s use of fire may have influenced human evolution. At the very least, fires helped humans stay warm, kept predators at bay, and might have facilitated the development of communication when early people gathered around the campfires. Fire also allowed people to cook their food, which made it more digestible.
Previous to the Wonderwerk find, the earliest evidence for human use of fire only dated back to about 700,000 years ago, so this new discovery has caused a bit of a sensation.
For more information about this discovery and possible implications, go here
When scientists used microscope analysis to study plant ash and charred bone fragments from the famous Wonderwerk Cave in South Africa, they discovered that the remains were about a million years old. They also concluded that the materials were burned inside the cave rather than being carried there by wind or water. The debris was found alongside stone tools, suggesting that humans had built the fire.
Some scientists believe that early man’s use of fire may have influenced human evolution. At the very least, fires helped humans stay warm, kept predators at bay, and might have facilitated the development of communication when early people gathered around the campfires. Fire also allowed people to cook their food, which made it more digestible.
Previous to the Wonderwerk find, the earliest evidence for human use of fire only dated back to about 700,000 years ago, so this new discovery has caused a bit of a sensation.
For more information about this discovery and possible implications, go here
Friday, April 20, 2012
Gobekli Tepe - The World’s Oldest Temple?
Believed to be more than 11,000 years old, Gobekli Tepe in southern Turkey is currently believed to be the world’s oldest temple. It is also a monument to the extraordinary artistic and engineering skills of its builders.
The Gobekli Tepe site is located near the Turkish city of Urfa. Only a tiny portion of the site has been excavated. So far excavators have found at least 20 stone rings, with one circle built inside another. These rings range from 30 to 100 feet (10 to 30) meters in diameter and are built with carefully carved limestone blocks.
The carving of the T-shaped blocks outlining the circles is strikingly precise, as are the sculptures of people and animals carved on the edges of both the blocks and the two 18-foot (5.5 m) tall pillars located in the center of the rings. So far, at least, no signs of living quarters have been found at Gobekli Tepe, and there are no hearths within the rings. It seems odd that even though there are signs that this structure was a major pilgrimage center, no one seems to have lived near it. Adding to the mystery, buildings dated at 14,000 to 15,000 years old were found at the base of the hill on which Gobekli Tepe is located.
Analysis of obsidian tools found at the site shows that the obsidian came from areas as far as 300 miles (500 km) away from the site. Experts are divided as to whether people actually came from that far away to visit the temple complex, or whether the obsidian was traded from far-away locations.
Gobekli Tepi is well designed and superbly executed. Its design and construction are remarkably advanced considering that it was supposedly constructed by hunter-gatherers. I do not believe that this technology emerged full-blown at Gobekli Tepi. I hope that archaeologists are searching for even earlier temple complexes that might reveal how the technology developed that eventually resulted in Gobekli Tepi. This beautiful and complex temple area is currently believed to be the oldest of its kind, but it seems fairly obvious that there may well be earlier examples still to be found.
There is a great site with information and photographs if you would like to explore further. Just visit here
The Gobekli Tepe site is located near the Turkish city of Urfa. Only a tiny portion of the site has been excavated. So far excavators have found at least 20 stone rings, with one circle built inside another. These rings range from 30 to 100 feet (10 to 30) meters in diameter and are built with carefully carved limestone blocks.
The carving of the T-shaped blocks outlining the circles is strikingly precise, as are the sculptures of people and animals carved on the edges of both the blocks and the two 18-foot (5.5 m) tall pillars located in the center of the rings. So far, at least, no signs of living quarters have been found at Gobekli Tepe, and there are no hearths within the rings. It seems odd that even though there are signs that this structure was a major pilgrimage center, no one seems to have lived near it. Adding to the mystery, buildings dated at 14,000 to 15,000 years old were found at the base of the hill on which Gobekli Tepe is located.
Analysis of obsidian tools found at the site shows that the obsidian came from areas as far as 300 miles (500 km) away from the site. Experts are divided as to whether people actually came from that far away to visit the temple complex, or whether the obsidian was traded from far-away locations.
Gobekli Tepi is well designed and superbly executed. Its design and construction are remarkably advanced considering that it was supposedly constructed by hunter-gatherers. I do not believe that this technology emerged full-blown at Gobekli Tepi. I hope that archaeologists are searching for even earlier temple complexes that might reveal how the technology developed that eventually resulted in Gobekli Tepi. This beautiful and complex temple area is currently believed to be the oldest of its kind, but it seems fairly obvious that there may well be earlier examples still to be found.
There is a great site with information and photographs if you would like to explore further. Just visit here
Saturday, April 14, 2012
The World’s Oldest Preserved Forests (Yes, there are two of them)
The record for the world’s oldest preserved forest turns out to be a tie. Both forests are about 300 million years old, and were found half a world apart.
The first, reported in 2007, was discovered in a coal mine located in Illinois. This one is also the largest ever found and is believed to cover an area of about 6 square miles (10 km). It was found more than 100 feet below the surface during mining operations. The remains are a treasure-trove of examples of extinct species, with club mosses which grew to over 40 feet high along with tree ferns, shrubs, and giant horsetails.
The huge size and diversity of the forest is allowing researchers to gain significant insights into the complex make-up of these ancient forests. For more information on the Illinois forest, click here
The second forest, located near Wuda in northern China, was found beneath a coal mine. It is much smaller in size than the Illinois find, but exhibits a wide diversity of plant life. Researchers studied three different sites totaling about 1,000 square meters and found that each site was a bit different than the others in terms of plant composition.
The Wuda forest was buried by a layer of volcanic ash, which preserved not only trunks and branches, but leaves and even pinecones. The Illinois forest apparently fell victim to an earthquake which which caused the area to drop below sea level. The forest was then buried in mud, which preserved the plants.
The fact that the two forests were found in or near coal mines is not too surprising. Both forests flourished during the Carboniferous period, which is when most of the world’s coal deposits were formed.
For more information on the Wuda forest, click here
The first, reported in 2007, was discovered in a coal mine located in Illinois. This one is also the largest ever found and is believed to cover an area of about 6 square miles (10 km). It was found more than 100 feet below the surface during mining operations. The remains are a treasure-trove of examples of extinct species, with club mosses which grew to over 40 feet high along with tree ferns, shrubs, and giant horsetails.
The huge size and diversity of the forest is allowing researchers to gain significant insights into the complex make-up of these ancient forests. For more information on the Illinois forest, click here
The second forest, located near Wuda in northern China, was found beneath a coal mine. It is much smaller in size than the Illinois find, but exhibits a wide diversity of plant life. Researchers studied three different sites totaling about 1,000 square meters and found that each site was a bit different than the others in terms of plant composition.
The Wuda forest was buried by a layer of volcanic ash, which preserved not only trunks and branches, but leaves and even pinecones. The Illinois forest apparently fell victim to an earthquake which which caused the area to drop below sea level. The forest was then buried in mud, which preserved the plants.
The fact that the two forests were found in or near coal mines is not too surprising. Both forests flourished during the Carboniferous period, which is when most of the world’s coal deposits were formed.
For more information on the Wuda forest, click here
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
The World’s Oldest Popcorn
Scientists currently believe that corn was originally domesticated around 9,.000 years ago in Mexico and reached South America a few thousand years later. Now they believe they’ve found the world’s oldest popcorn in Peru.
Evidence for the presence of popcorn was found at two sites, Paredones and Huaca Prieta, both located on Peru’s northern coast. Researchers analyzed stalks, cobs, corn husks and tassels and determined that the remains dated from 6,700 to about 3,000 years ago. Though the experts believe that the primitive corn was actually popped, they also believe that it was ground into flour.
The tiny corn cobs measure less than 4 inches, and on first glance bear little resemblance to modern corn. It is interesting that no wild varieties of corn have ever been found either in Mexico or in South America. It is currently thought that corn was deliberately developed from a wild grass called teosinte.
It is also interesting that corn arrived in South America long before the development of pottery and ceramics.
If you are interested in seeing a picture and learning more about this remarkable discovery, click here
Evidence for the presence of popcorn was found at two sites, Paredones and Huaca Prieta, both located on Peru’s northern coast. Researchers analyzed stalks, cobs, corn husks and tassels and determined that the remains dated from 6,700 to about 3,000 years ago. Though the experts believe that the primitive corn was actually popped, they also believe that it was ground into flour.
The tiny corn cobs measure less than 4 inches, and on first glance bear little resemblance to modern corn. It is interesting that no wild varieties of corn have ever been found either in Mexico or in South America. It is currently thought that corn was deliberately developed from a wild grass called teosinte.
It is also interesting that corn arrived in South America long before the development of pottery and ceramics.
If you are interested in seeing a picture and learning more about this remarkable discovery, click here
Thursday, March 1, 2012
The World’s Oldest Elephant Tracks Aren’t in Africa
These tracks are about 7 million years old, and were found at a site located in the Arabian Desert within the United Arab Emirates. They are believed to have been made by about 13 four-tusked, primitive ancestors of modern elephants.
The tracks cover an area of more than 12 acres (5 hectares). Originally thought by locals to be dinosaur prints, they were finally identified in January 2011 when the area was mapped by air.
For more on this story, visit
The tracks cover an area of more than 12 acres (5 hectares). Originally thought by locals to be dinosaur prints, they were finally identified in January 2011 when the area was mapped by air.
For more on this story, visit
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
The World’s Oldest Working Light Bulb
The lucky owners of world’s oldest working light bulb celebrated its 100th birthday in June 2001. Nearly 12 years later, it’s still burning, though not as brightly as it once did.
On June 18, 1901, Dennis Bernal, owner of the Livermore Power and Light Company of Livermore, California, donated the 60-watt light bulb to the local fire department. It was first installed at a hose cart house, but was soon moved to the main firehouse. In 1903, it was again moved, this time to the new Station 1. It was turned off for about a week when the firehouse was renovated in 1937, when it was turned back on without incident.
In 1976, it was moved to Fire Station 6, escorted by police and fire trucks. This time it got its own power supply, though it was still running at 110 watts. It is now serving as a night light, and its power has now been cut to only four watts.
This particular bulb was developed by Adolphe A. Chaillet and manufactured by the Shelby Electric Company. The bulb itself was handblown and equipped with a carbon filament. No one seems to know why it has lasted so long.
The Centennial Bulb is recognized as the oldest known working light bulb by both the Guinness Book of World Records and by Ripley’s Believe-It-or–Not.
The Livermore bulb, also called the Centennial Bulb and the Shelby Bulb, even has its own website.
On June 18, 1901, Dennis Bernal, owner of the Livermore Power and Light Company of Livermore, California, donated the 60-watt light bulb to the local fire department. It was first installed at a hose cart house, but was soon moved to the main firehouse. In 1903, it was again moved, this time to the new Station 1. It was turned off for about a week when the firehouse was renovated in 1937, when it was turned back on without incident.
In 1976, it was moved to Fire Station 6, escorted by police and fire trucks. This time it got its own power supply, though it was still running at 110 watts. It is now serving as a night light, and its power has now been cut to only four watts.
This particular bulb was developed by Adolphe A. Chaillet and manufactured by the Shelby Electric Company. The bulb itself was handblown and equipped with a carbon filament. No one seems to know why it has lasted so long.
The Centennial Bulb is recognized as the oldest known working light bulb by both the Guinness Book of World Records and by Ripley’s Believe-It-or–Not.
The Livermore bulb, also called the Centennial Bulb and the Shelby Bulb, even has its own website.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
The World’s Oldest Astrologer’s Board
Astrology is thought to have first developed in Babylon some time before 2500 B.C. It spread to the eastern Mediterranean area around 2100 years ago. So you would expect to find the oldest astrology board in Babylon.
But in 1999, thirty bits of ivory found in a cave near Nakovana in Croatia and painstakingly assembled over the next several years, proved to be the remains of what is now the oldest known astrologer’s board. The part of the cave containing the ivory fragments had been deliberately sealed off more than 2,000 years ago and lay undisturbed until discovered by a team led by Staso Forenbaher of the Institute for Anthropological Research in Zagreb.
Over time, the Greek symbols used for the signs of the zodiac replaced earlier versions developed by the Babylonians and other cultures and are still in use by today’s astrologers.
Researchers are uncertain where the board was made, although the ivory was identified as coming from an elephant. They believe the symbols may have been attached to a wooden board that did not survive. They also have no idea why it was placed in a cave, which is not a particularly good place for observing stars and constellations.
The cave also contained a large number of drinking vessels which appear to have been deposited over hundreds of years. If these drinking vessels were used in rituals, then the cave had a long history of special significance for the people who lived in the area long before the board was left there. Was it hidden there, or was it an offering to some unknown deity?
If you’re interested in more information, you might want to start here
But in 1999, thirty bits of ivory found in a cave near Nakovana in Croatia and painstakingly assembled over the next several years, proved to be the remains of what is now the oldest known astrologer’s board. The part of the cave containing the ivory fragments had been deliberately sealed off more than 2,000 years ago and lay undisturbed until discovered by a team led by Staso Forenbaher of the Institute for Anthropological Research in Zagreb.
Over time, the Greek symbols used for the signs of the zodiac replaced earlier versions developed by the Babylonians and other cultures and are still in use by today’s astrologers.
Researchers are uncertain where the board was made, although the ivory was identified as coming from an elephant. They believe the symbols may have been attached to a wooden board that did not survive. They also have no idea why it was placed in a cave, which is not a particularly good place for observing stars and constellations.
The cave also contained a large number of drinking vessels which appear to have been deposited over hundreds of years. If these drinking vessels were used in rituals, then the cave had a long history of special significance for the people who lived in the area long before the board was left there. Was it hidden there, or was it an offering to some unknown deity?
If you’re interested in more information, you might want to start here
Sunday, January 29, 2012
The World’s Oldest Paint Set
An article in the January/February 2012 issue of Archaeology magazine describes what are believed to be the world’s oldest known paint supplies, which appear to have been manufactured about 100,000 years ago in a production shop that may also be candidate for the "world’s oldest" factory.
Blombos Cave in South Africa has yielded a number of "world’s oldest" artifacts over the last many years, and the discovery of two abalone shells containing mineral residue and ochre should not surprise anyone familiar with excavations at the cave. The excavators also found what may have been primitive mortars and pestles used to grind the red and yellow ochre pigments, along with other tools that the owner may have used repeatedly over a period of time.
Red ochre, in particular, was used during that time as a part of early funeral practices when it was scattered over the corpse prior to burial. But the evidence found at Blombos Cave indicates that the ochre was used either for creating paintings, or possibly for body decoration, or both.
In Europe, no evidence for the manufacture and use of such "paints" exists much before 35,000 to 37,000 years BC, when the famous cave paintings in caves such as Lascaux and Chauvet were created. Were the people living in what is now southwestern South Africa that far ahead of those living elsewhere in the world 100,000 years ago?
Blombos Cave in South Africa has yielded a number of "world’s oldest" artifacts over the last many years, and the discovery of two abalone shells containing mineral residue and ochre should not surprise anyone familiar with excavations at the cave. The excavators also found what may have been primitive mortars and pestles used to grind the red and yellow ochre pigments, along with other tools that the owner may have used repeatedly over a period of time.
Red ochre, in particular, was used during that time as a part of early funeral practices when it was scattered over the corpse prior to burial. But the evidence found at Blombos Cave indicates that the ochre was used either for creating paintings, or possibly for body decoration, or both.
In Europe, no evidence for the manufacture and use of such "paints" exists much before 35,000 to 37,000 years BC, when the famous cave paintings in caves such as Lascaux and Chauvet were created. Were the people living in what is now southwestern South Africa that far ahead of those living elsewhere in the world 100,000 years ago?
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
The Oldest Domesticated Dogs
It has long been believed that dogs were first domesticated about 14,000 to 17,000 years ago. But a recent report by Mietje Germonpre of Belgium's Museum of Natural History and her research team has produced evidence for dates closer to 31,500 to 37,000 years ago.
Three canid skulls documented in the report were found at Predmosti in the Czech Republic and were dated at around 31,500 years ago. A separate research team working at Razboinichya Cave in Siberia found a skull believed to be 33,000 years old. An even older skull, reported in 2009 by Germonpre, was discovered at Goyer in Belgium and dated at 36,000 years.
Researchers generally consider shorter snouts and wider brain cases, among other characteristics, when trying to separate dogs from wolves. These distinctive characteristics, appearing on skulls from three separate regions of Europe and Eurasia, seem to indicate that the domestication and breeding of dogs was not the product of a single anomalous event. Also, one of the dogs found in the Czech site had been buried with a mastodon bone in its mouth. Did its owner place it there as a parting gift?
This is most likely not the end of this story. Now that these new discoveries have been reported, other researchers may take a closer look at some of their own finds.
Three canid skulls documented in the report were found at Predmosti in the Czech Republic and were dated at around 31,500 years ago. A separate research team working at Razboinichya Cave in Siberia found a skull believed to be 33,000 years old. An even older skull, reported in 2009 by Germonpre, was discovered at Goyer in Belgium and dated at 36,000 years.
Researchers generally consider shorter snouts and wider brain cases, among other characteristics, when trying to separate dogs from wolves. These distinctive characteristics, appearing on skulls from three separate regions of Europe and Eurasia, seem to indicate that the domestication and breeding of dogs was not the product of a single anomalous event. Also, one of the dogs found in the Czech site had been buried with a mastodon bone in its mouth. Did its owner place it there as a parting gift?
This is most likely not the end of this story. Now that these new discoveries have been reported, other researchers may take a closer look at some of their own finds.
Friday, January 6, 2012
The Oldest Beads Found So Far
How many ancient objects are lying forgotten or undiscovered in dusty corners of modern museums? The following story is a case in point.
It seems that around 100,000 years ago, people living in what are now Israel and Algeria were already wearing jewelry made of tiny pierced shells. Researchers rediscovered these ancient beads by combing through old museum collections at the Natural History Museum in London and in Paris at the Musee de l'Homme, where they had lain virtually untouched since the 1930s and 1940s. So far the researchers have rediscovered three shell beads from two different sites.
The shells belong to a Mediterranean species called Nessarius gibbosulus. The beads were found so far inland that researchers believe they must have been intentionally brought there from the Mediterranean coast. Did people bring these beads with them during migrations inland, or do they represent evidence of early trade between coastal peoples and those living farther inland?
There is an interesting sidelight to this story. The same researchers who discovered the Mediterranean shells also found a collection of shells discovered at the famous Blombos Cave in South Africa. These beads, dated to about 75,000 years ago, are also made of Nessarius gibbosulus shells.
More information about these beads can be found here
It seems that around 100,000 years ago, people living in what are now Israel and Algeria were already wearing jewelry made of tiny pierced shells. Researchers rediscovered these ancient beads by combing through old museum collections at the Natural History Museum in London and in Paris at the Musee de l'Homme, where they had lain virtually untouched since the 1930s and 1940s. So far the researchers have rediscovered three shell beads from two different sites.
The shells belong to a Mediterranean species called Nessarius gibbosulus. The beads were found so far inland that researchers believe they must have been intentionally brought there from the Mediterranean coast. Did people bring these beads with them during migrations inland, or do they represent evidence of early trade between coastal peoples and those living farther inland?
There is an interesting sidelight to this story. The same researchers who discovered the Mediterranean shells also found a collection of shells discovered at the famous Blombos Cave in South Africa. These beads, dated to about 75,000 years ago, are also made of Nessarius gibbosulus shells.
More information about these beads can be found here
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