Posted on 09/14/2025 7:25:06 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced that archaeologists uncovered rare 4,000-year-old wicks that are among the oldest known examples that have been found anywhere in the world. The discovery came as a team was excavating a set of Bronze Age tombs at the site of Newe Efraim near Yehud. Among the burial offerings, which also included pottery, jewelry, and metal weapons, were three clay oil lamps that still contained wicks inside. These objects rarely survive, not only because they were made from natural material that decays easily, but because by design they are intended to be lit and burnt, eventually disappearing. "This is a unique discovery that we did not expect could ever be found in the moist Mediterranean climate," said IAA researchers Naama Sukenik and Yonah Maor. "Although wicks were a common product for lighting in the ancient world, the fact that they are made of organic fibers makes it difficult to discover them in an archaeological dig." Laboratory analysis indicated that the wicks were made from reused linen textiles that were cut into long strips and twisted together. They then underwent a type of "fossilization" process over time that accounts for their preservation for thousands of years. Read the original scholarly article about this research in 'Atiqot. To read about recent redating of a cache of Bronze Age objects uncovered at the site of Megiddo in northern Israel, go to "Secrets of a Silver Hoard."
(Excerpt) Read more at archaeology.org ...
They should not have killed his dog..................
Wolf find out later that it lit him up.
I don't think they had steel 4000 years ago. I could be wrong. But, even if you did, you couldn't start a wick burning with just a spark. The spark needs to hit a very fine tinder and then quickly wrapped up with more tinder and then you blow on it until it bursts into flame. Then you transfer that flame to your already prepared fine kindling etc...
Sorry, I'm an old boy scout dad who loves to go camping.
Yes, you can if the wick is saturated with a proper fuel. I would like to refer you to the common cigarette lighter that has been around for a very long time. Same goes for the "permanent match".
I have struck two rocks together with resulting sparks. Perhaps flint and hematite.
Sorry, I am ALSO an old boy scout that goes camping AND is a bit of a pyromaniac.
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