Ancient objects from our era. The oldest objects discovered by archaeologists. Dual and two-handed weapons

Ancient people couldn't exchange text messages or take glamorous selfies, but despite this, they willingly used flush toilets, chewing gum and cute handbags, just like you and me.

We enjoy many modern technologies, but most of the everyday items we use have been around for ages.

An extended list of the most ancient examples of everyday items has been compiled for you. It is worth noting that these are the oldest surviving objects, many of them existed earlier, but, unfortunately, there is no evidence of this.

The oldest socks (1,500 years old)

According to the interpretation of some fundamentalists, Bible tells that God created Adam and Eve several thousand years ago. Science reports that this is just a fiction, and that man is several million years old, and civilization is tens of thousands of years old. However, could it be that traditional science is just as wrong as bible stories? There is a large amount of archaeological evidence that history of life on earth may be quite different from what geological and anthropological texts tell us today.

Corrugated Spheres

For the past few decades, miners in South Africa have been digging up mysterious metal balls. These balls of unknown origin are approximately an inch (2.54 cm) in diameter, and some of them are engraved with three parallel lines running along the axis of the object. Two types of balls were found: one consisting of a hard bluish metal with white spots, and another empty from the inside and filled with a white spongy substance. Interestingly, the rock in which they were discovered dates back to the Precambrian period and dates back 2.8 billion years! Who made these spheres and why remains a mystery.

Archeology is an incredibly interesting science and allows researchers of the past to look through the depths of centuries and try to understand how the life of ancient communities was structured.

Numerous archaeological finds of scientists, exhibited in all major world museums, annually attract hundreds of thousands of visitors who want to get a little touch of ancient history.

But some finds are simply unique due to their ancient age. Many of them were discovered at archaeological sites, while others were found completely by accident.

Zircon is a mineral of the island silicates subgroup, and this pebble in the photo is currently the oldest material discovered on the planet. Scientists date the crystal's formation to approximately 4.4 billion years ago.

The mineral was discovered in 2001 in an arid region north of Perth, Australia.

This translucent red crystal changes color to blue when bombarded with electrons, and its length is only 400 microns - for comparison, that's about the thickness of four human hairs stacked together.

Scientists suggest that the found crystal will help to better understand how our planet was formed, because the Earth is 4.5 billion years old, and the crystal was formed only 100 million years later.

A wooden toe found on the foot of a mummy more than 3,000 years old is considered the oldest prosthetic on the planet. Scientists from the University of Manchester created a copy of the prosthesis and asked a volunteer with a missing finger to wear it for a while, shod in the sandals that people wore in Ancient Egypt.

It turned out that the item actually serves as a practical walking aid, and not just a cosmetic replacement for a finger.

Was the first Swiss knife invented 1800 years ago? But this may well be true. At the very least, this versatile tool is strikingly similar to its more modern cousin and served at least six useful functions.

But this knife is not a Swiss knife, it was created by a blacksmith in the Roman Empire around 200 AD.

Using a double-edged blade, ancient gourmets most likely opened shells with oysters, and used a hook-shaped spike to uncork bottles of sauces. The tool also includes a spoon, fork, knife and toothpick. And all these devices easily and compactly fold into a handle, like a modern Swiss knife. The tool was found by archaeologists in the Mediterranean in the early 90s, and predates the Swiss knife, invented in 1897, by almost 1,800 years.

The world's oldest cache of marijuana, weighing 900 grams, was discovered in an ancient tomb more than 2,700 years old in the Gobi Desert in 2008.

A series of tests conducted by researchers proved that the drug has still not lost its powerful psychotropic properties and cast doubt on the theory that ancient people grew hemp only to produce clothing, rope and other household items.

The cache was discovered by archaeologists in a wooden vessel, in a leather basket near the head of a man who died at the age of about 45, and was presumably a shaman of the tribe. In the grave, researchers did not find objects intended for smoking, and scientists concluded that ancient “weed” lovers injected the drug into the body orally, or fumigated it like a censer.

In the photograph, the stone looks inconspicuous and looks like an ordinary piece of rock. But in fact, the shredded cobblestone is one of the most sensational archaeological finds. This is one of the oldest stone tools ever found, created 500,000 years before the advent of Homo habilis, who scientists believe was the first to use tools.

Archaeologists have found an ancient tool near Lake Turkana, in Kenya. A huge number of historical artifacts have already been discovered in this area, helping to better understand the history of the origin and evolution of humanity.

The tool was made using the passive hammering method, where a stone blank is struck against a harder surface, and was most likely created by an early human ancestor, Australopithecus, which first appeared in Africa about 4 million years ago.

German archaeologists in 2005, in the Hohle fels cave near the ancient city of Ulm, discovered the world's oldest artificial 20-centimeter phallus, carefully made and polished from siltstone.

The stone penis was made almost 28,000 years ago and was found by a team of scientists from the University of Tübingen. Professor Nicholas Conard suggested that, judging by the fact that the instrument was polished to an almost high shine, it was very actively used at one time.

About 150,000 years ago, an ancient Neanderthal fell to his death in a cave near the modern city of Altamura in southern Italy. In 1993, speleologists discovered his remains and reported the discovery to archaeologists.

But it was not possible to remove the skull and bones, since over tens of thousands of years, under the influence of moisture, they had literally grown into the rocks and were under a layer of calcite.

For more than 20 years, the remains lay untouched, and only in 2015 did researchers finally manage to extract a fragment of the bone of the right shoulder blade. The material was sent to the laboratory and the result of the study confirmed that the remains belong to “Homo neanderthalensis” - Neanderthal man. Scientists hope that by studying strands of DNA sequentially, they will learn much more about the evolution of humanity.

Clay tablets containing cuneiform characters of the ancient Hurrian language were excavated in the early 1950s near the ancient Syrian city of Ugarit (modern name Ras Shamra). Scientists deciphered the cuneiform and realized that in front of them was the text of a hymn, which is currently the oldest known piece of music.

In 1972, after 15 years of studying the artifact, Assyriology professor Anne Kilmer of the University of California was able to create an audio track of the ancient piece of music.

In 2007, a piece of chewing gum that was over 5,000 years old was discovered in Finland by a student at the British Institute of Archaeology. Neolithic chewing gum made from birch resin was forever imprinted with a tooth imprint. Scientists believe that birch resin contains phenols that have antiseptic compounds, and ancient people chewed the resin to cure infections affecting the gums.

In 2006, Iranian archaeologists found an artificial eyeball made 4,800 years ago. The eye prosthesis belonged to a woman between 25 and 30 years old at the time of death and was made from plant resins mixed with animal fat.

Research has shown that before her death, the woman began to develop an abscess in the eyelid area due to contact of the prosthesis with the eye socket.

This stone mask, made by a Neolithic craftsman, dates back to 7000 BC and can be seen in the Museum of the Bible and the Holy Land in Paris.

If you think that some of your things have already served their purpose and become dilapidated, then you should look at what scientists managed to dig up from the depths of history. According to research conducted on lice, humans began wearing clothing approximately 170,000 years ago. The oldest fibers used by humans are approximately 34,000 years old. Given that clothing is typically made from organic materials such as leather and cloth (which deteriorate quickly), there are very few ancient garments and accessories in the world.

10. The oldest jewelry in the world (130,000 years old)

In 2015, scientists announced that they had found the oldest jewelry in the world - eight eagle talons were found at the site of a Neanderthal settlement in Croatia. The eagle's talons came from three different birds. Several holes were made in them for stringing. There were also cuts and evidence of polishing, leading scientists to believe the claws were part of a necklace or bracelet.

This find supports the claim that Neanderthals were not stupid cavemen, but part of a complex, intelligent society that included religion and art. The researchers say it is likely that the claws were chosen for ceremonial purposes, demonstrating that Neanderthals understood the concept of symbolism. Given the fact that this jewelry dates back to approximately 80,000 years before the advent of modern humans, it was simply impossible for Neanderthals to have stolen or copied this design.

Before this discovery, the oldest jewelry in history was shells found in Israel and Africa, which were approximately 100,000 years old. The shells were found far from the coast and bore evidence of their use as beads strung on some kind of thread.

9. The oldest shoes (9300 years old)

The oldest pair of shoes in the world was discovered in the Fort Rock Basin in Oregon in 1938 and both shoes were found together. Fort Rock sandals were made from the twisted bark of Artemisia tree, they were without soles and had a closed toe. Several specimens have been discovered, the oldest being between 9,300 and 10,000 years old. Scientists believe that the straps on the sandals were tied around the ankle and then tied in a knot.

Well, the oldest leather shoe was discovered in the Areni-1 cave in southeastern Armenia in 2010. The shoe, estimated to be around 5,500 years old, is a brown leather lace-up boot for a small right foot (approximately size 37 or 38). This suggests that this shoe is a woman's. Researchers say the shoe was cut from a single piece of leather tanned with vegetable oil and tailored to fit the foot that would wear it. In addition, the shoe was stuffed with grass, either for insulation or to keep it from losing shape while not being worn.

The crown was discovered along with the Nahal Mishar Hoard. This treasure contained more than 400 items. The treasure was found in the Judean Desert, near the Dead Sea in 1961. The crown, dating from the Copper Age (4000-3300 BC), is made of blackened copper and measures approximately 18 centimeters in diameter (the New Yorker described it as a "little man's hat" in circumference). The top edge of the crown is decorated with five figures, including two long-necked birds (believed to be vultures), a pair of stylized doors or gates, and a T-shaped object thought to be the handle of a sword. It was discovered along with a scepter decorated with images of horned animals, a copper wicker basket and many clay bowls and vessels.

However, scholars do not think that the crown was worn by the real ruler of this area. They suggest that the crown was used for public ceremonies and during funeral rites for important people. It is also completely unclear how the crown and other treasures remained in a cave in the desert for so many centuries.

An Armenian cave became an ancient clothing storehouse for archaeologists, providing them with not only the oldest surviving skirt in the world, but also the aforementioned leather shoe. The skirt was discovered in the Areni-1 cave in southeastern Armenia. Only fragments remain of it, but this is enough to determine that the fabric is made of woven reeds with a ribbon woven in the opposite direction along the edge of the hem. It is impossible to say exactly what the skirt looked like when it was finished and whether it was worn by a woman or a man. However, scientists believe it represents the world's oldest example of clothing made from woven reeds.

Scientists were delighted to find in Areni-1, in addition to a skirt and a shoe, a mummified goat, which dates back to the same period as the skirt. If the scientists’ calculations are correct, then the Armenian goat mummy is approximately a thousand years older than most mummified animals discovered in Egypt.

6. The oldest dress (5000 years old)

The Tarkhan dress, often considered the oldest piece of clothing in the world, was discovered in an ancient Egyptian cemetery, about 48 kilometers from Cairo. This dress, dating from the First Dynasty of Ancient Egypt or the Old Kingdom, is made from linen (and is the oldest piece of clothing made from textiles). The sleeves of the dress are ruffled, and a yoke is sewn to the hem. Researchers say the garment was clearly worn, as it clearly shows folds at the elbows and armpits. It was also found inside out, although some believe it was deliberately placed in the grave to impart funerary significance.

The dress was originally found in 1913, but the significance of the find was not realized until 1977. The tunic was part of a heap of flax that was removed from the grave but had not been properly cleaned or examined for 60 years. Curators at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London attached the dress to a base of fine silk so it could be displayed as it was worn in real life.

5. The oldest pants (3000 years old)

The oldest pants in the world were discovered in the Yanghai necropolis in China in 2014. Despite their obvious use they are still in very good condition. Researchers believe the pants were made to order by stitching together three pieces of material - the legs and crotch area - which were sewn together using matching threads. The pants also feature an intricate geometric pattern that has been woven directly into the fabric to create a comfortable pair of pants. Researchers believe the pants most likely originated among horse-using tribes that lived in the region approximately 4,000 years ago. They were used for protection and convenience when riding horses.

The desert surrounding the Yanghai necropolis has helped preserve a huge amount of fine textiles and fabrics. Items such as colored sheepskin boots, feathered hats, a fringed skirt and a tiny loincloth were also found there.

This bag can be called the first bag with a dog tooth decoration. In 2012, archaeologists unearthed the world's oldest bag from a grave near Leipzig, Germany. The bag was made of leather or fabric that had since decomposed and was covered in more than a hundred teeth from dozens of animals. Scientists say that what is left of the bag is very similar to an ordinary modern bag with a hinged lid with all the teeth pointing in the same direction. Dog teeth have also been found in hair ornaments and necklaces, leading scientists to speculate that they "were quite fashionable at the time."

A huge number of artifacts from Stone and Bronze Age settlements were discovered at the excavation site. Among them were stone chairs, bone buttons and an amber necklace. The researchers also discovered a later burial of a woman (circa 50 BC) with approximately 450 grams of gold jewelry.

3. The oldest sweater (1700 years old)

The world's oldest sweater was found on a Norwegian glacier in 2013. A greenish-brown crew-neck sweater made from sheep's wool with a diagonal diamond pattern was knitted for a man approximately 175 centimeters tall. This design may well have been fashionable in Iron Age Europe. The cut and size of the sweater are very similar to another item of clothing discovered in a swamp more than 150 years ago.

The sweater appears to be well preserved and has obviously been well looked after as it has been sewn twice. It may also be one of the oldest examples of reuse - some scholars suggest it was originally a sleeveless vest, with sleeves added during a second repair. More than 50 textile fragments were discovered in the glacier, many of which are still undergoing age determination and analysis. Researchers believe that global warming will lead to the discovery of more ancient clothing and accessories in the coming years.

2. The oldest socks in the world (1600 years old)

Less old than the rest of the items on this list, the world's oldest socks are still quite old, dating back to between 250 and 420 BC. These socks, of Romano-Egyptian origin, were discovered in the necropolis of an ancient Greek colony in central Egypt in the late 1800s.

Some observers have called them "alien socks" or "lobster socks." These are knitted wool socks of a bright red color with a separate big toe, which, according to scientists, was made for comfortable wearing with sandals. They are considered a very rare example of a knitting technique known as "Nålbindning" or single needle knitting - which is described as a very slow technique, more similar to embroidery than modern knitting. It starts with tying the big toe and ends at the ankle.

1. Oldest bra and panties (600 years old)

They're practically new compared to the rest of the list. The oldest underwear in the world was discovered under a floorboard in an Austrian castle in 2008. Four linen lace bras were discovered in a pile of more than 2,700 different textile fragments under the floor covering at Lengberg Castle. Researchers believe the bras date back to between 1390 and 1485 (when they were charmingly called "breast bags"). All four had distinctive cups and straps, while two of them appeared to be more of a bra and crop top combination, including a series of loops on the left side for lacing.

Also found in the mountain of clothing were several pairs of surprisingly modern-looking underpants, worn by men rather than women. If you are wondering what the world's oldest bra would look like on you, then you can sew your own version by looking at its patterns on the Internet.

We bring to your attention an article about 30 ancient objects from everyday human life that have survived to this day.

It’s hard to imagine, but many objects from the everyday life of modern people existed hundreds, or even thousands of years ago. We have prepared a review in which we presented only the most ancient examples of things familiar to us that have survived to this day.

However, it is likely that some of the items listed could have appeared much earlier than the dates mentioned.

Video with the most ancient melody

The Hurrian Hymn, written in cuneiform on a clay tablet, is the oldest recorded melody in human history. The artifact, dating back to the 1400s BC, was discovered in the city of Ugarit (Northern Canaan) in modern-day Syria. The melody was performed on the lyre in honor of the wife of the Moon God.

The world's oldest animation (5000 years old)

The world's oldest animation - video

The National Museum of Iran houses a 10-centimeter clay drinking cup, which depicts five successive scenes of a goat moving in a circle. First, the animal jumps in the direction of the tree, then eats leaves from it. By rotating the cup around a vertical axis, you can see a simple animation. Scientists date this product to the third millennium BC.

The oldest socks in the world (1500 years old)

These unusual woolen socks of a resident of Ancient Egypt were knitted one and a half thousand years ago between the three hundredth and four hundred and ninety-ninth years after the birth of Christ. Socks were worn specifically with sandals, hence their original appearance. Interestingly, even after one and a half thousand years, these socks look quite competitive against the background of even the most original socks of modern designers.

The oldest shoes in the world (5500 years old)

The world's oldest leather shoes were discovered in one of the caves in Armenia. Several layers of sheep manure and grass, under which the discovery was made, acted as a preservative. The shoes were perfectly preserved, having lain in a dry and cool cave for about 5.5 thousand years. It's amazing how much the ancient moccasin resembles some modern shoe models!

The oldest pants in the world (3400 years old)

On the territory of an ancient necropolis in Western China, archaeologists have discovered the oldest pants in the world. They are woven from woolen fabric and decorated with complex patterns. The pants probably belonged to one of the Asian nomads who lived about 3,400 years ago. According to scientists, this find confirms that it was the nomads who were the first to invent trousers for comfortable horseback riding.

World's Oldest Bra (500 years old)

This bra was worn in Austria between 1390 and 1485. Although this is the oldest surviving bra, there are earlier descriptions of “breast pouches” in the annals. Over 500 years, the most original modern bras have come a long way from their ancestor, but the first model can also easily pass for a vintage retro classic.

The oldest handbag in the world (4500 years old)

In Germany, a small handbag was found in a Bronze Age burial dating back to 2500-2200 BC. Over thousands of years, the leather and fabric from which it was made deteriorated. Only the dog's teeth survived, which probably served as decoration and protection for the purse.

The world's oldest sunglasses (800 years old)

The Eskimos can be considered the inventors of the world's first sunglasses. “Snow” glasses, as the Eskimos themselves called them, were made from bone, leather or wood. The thin slits on the glasses were intended to protect the eyes from "snow blindness" caused by bright sunlight. The first such glasses, according to scientists, appeared several thousand years ago. The oldest specimen in existence was made from walrus ivory “only” between 1200 and 1600 AD on Baffin Island in Canada. Of course, ancient glasses do not have the cool features of modern high-tech sunglasses, but thanks to their simplicity and reliability, they will easily last another 800 years.

The world's oldest condom (370 years old)

The oldest surviving condom was found in Sweden, in the city of Lund. The ancient contraceptive, dating back to 1640, was made from pig intestines and could be used over and over again. Instructions in Latin have survived to this day, recommending washing a condom in warm milk after each use. Condoms from the 17th century, made from sheep and pig intestines, offered little protection against sexually transmitted diseases, so scientists believe they were primarily used to prevent pregnancy. In general, the first mention of a condom dates back to 1564. The Italian doctor and inventor Gabriele Fallopio came up with the idea of ​​putting a linen bag soaked in all sorts of chemicals on the male genital organ.

The oldest chewing gum in the world (5000 years old)

The oldest known chewing gum is considered to be a piece of fossilized birch resin from the Neolithic period, found in Finland. Chewing gum, which bears traces of the teeth of Stone Age man, dates back to the end of the fourth millennium BC. Wood resin contains phenols, which have antiseptic properties. Therefore, ancient people chewed the resin and bark of trees to get rid of oral diseases. In addition, tree resin was often used as glue, for example, to glue broken pottery together.

The world's oldest cheese (3600 years old)

In the 20th century, perfectly preserved mummies were found in the Taklamakan Desert in northwestern China with small lumps of cheese on their chests and necks. Scientists are sure that this cheese was made using sourdough. Some types of cheese and kefir are made in the same way today. Research results showed that the cheese found dates back to approximately 1615 BC, making it the oldest cheese on the planet.

The world's oldest prosthesis (3000 years old)

While studying an ancient Egyptian mummy buried approximately three thousand years ago, archaeologists discovered that her right foot had wooden toes attached in place of missing toes. To confirm their guess, the researchers created an exact copy of the found artifact and tested it with the help of a volunteer with a similar injury. Tests showed that the wooden fingers were used specifically for walking, and not for cosmetic purposes. Thanks to them, a person could not only move freely, but also wear sandals, which were the main footwear in Ancient Egypt. The scientists' guess turned out to be correct: they managed to discover the oldest known prosthesis. Today, when there are even original prostheses for animals, it is unlikely that anyone can be surprised by the prosthetics of part of the foot, however, the appearance of such a prosthesis three thousand years ago can be safely called a fantastic scientific breakthrough of that time.

World's Oldest Public Flush Toilet (2000 Years Old)

The oldest public flush toilet has been discovered in the ancient city of Ephesus in Turkey. Under the slab with holes for “needs” there was a hidden hole with a drainage system. It is noteworthy that a tool resembling an oar was also found there. Probably, on hot days, servants used this oar to speed up the cleaning of the toilet pit, pushing its contents towards the drainage. It should be recognized that the toilet topic is close to humanity like no other, which is perhaps why it is constantly inventing more and more original public toilets.

The oldest coin in the world (2700 years old)

The oldest coin now known was discovered among the ruins of the same ancient Greek city of Ephesus, a once thriving center of trade on the coast of Asia Minor. The coin was made more than 2,700 years ago from an alloy of gold and silver. The metal blank was placed on a die with a carved lion's head, after which the master struck the back of the blank with a hammer. The result was a coin with a convex image of a lion's head on the obverse and a depressed impact mark on the reverse.

The oldest map of the world (2800 years old)

A clay tablet from Mesopotamia, dating from the turn of the eighth to seventh centuries BC, is considered the oldest map of the world. It is noteworthy that the map of Babylon contains not only real, but also fictitious geographical objects.

The oldest globe (510 years old)

In order for the first known globe that has survived to this day to have a spherical shape, it was assembled from the wide parts of two ostrich eggs. Then the engraver painstakingly transferred the famous map of the Old and New Worlds onto the surface of the ball. Scientists believe that this globe was made in Florence, Italy, perhaps even in the workshop of Leonardo da Vinci himself. The first globe is so original that even in our time it would not get lost among the most unusual modern globes.

The oldest printed book in the world (637 years old)

The world's oldest printed book appeared in Korea in 1377, a full 78 years before the Gutenberg Bible, long considered the first printed book. It was a Buddhist document called "Chikchi", containing the lives of great Buddhist monks and selected passages from their sermons, helping to comprehend the essence of the great teachings of the Buddha. Today this book is in the Paris National Library.

World's Oldest Recorded Recipe (Over 5,000 years old)

The ancient Sumerians, who lived in Southern Mesopotamia, left behind the most ancient beer recipe, dating back to 3000 BC. If the recipe is followed exactly, you get a strong beer drink in which pieces of bread should float.

The world's oldest musical instrument (42,000 years old)

Scientists claim that the age of a bone flute found in a cave in southwest Germany is at least 42 thousand years old. The first musical instruments were made by ancient people from bird bones and mammoth tusks. It is believed that it was music that allowed Homo Sapiens to gain an advantage over Neanderthals.

The world's oldest anthropomorphic figurine (Age 35,000 - 40,000 years)

The world's oldest anthropomorphic figurine has been discovered in a cave in southwest Germany. Scientists believe that an unknown sculptor carved it from mammoth tusk about 35-40 thousand years ago. It is believed that the expressive figurine of a woman with grotesquely exaggerated sexual characteristics was used by our ancestors to symbolize fertility. Of course, this figurine has enormous historical and collectible value; if it were sold, it could well be among the 10 most expensive statues in the world.

Bonus: the oldest mineral on earth (4.4 billion years old)

In 2001, a tiny zirconium crystal was found in Australia, becoming the oldest mineral on earth. Its age is 4.4 billion years! Currently it can be seen in the geological museum of the University of Madison in the USA.

Sweater

The oldest sweater in the world belonged to a certain fashionista from Iron Age Europe. Most likely, such clothes were very expensive: the holes were mended several times and the item, despite its age, is in very good condition.

Dress

One of the oldest robes in the world was discovered in an Egyptian cemetery 30 kilometers from Cairo. The dress is made from linen, primitive textiles and rope. It is now on permanent display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.