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
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
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
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