Posted on 05/09/2015 6:54:14 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
An Ancient Thracian bronze artifact in the shape of a stork's head described as "the oldest children's toy in Europe" has been identified by Bulgarian archaeologists among archaeological items found by local residents in the area of the southern town of Zlatograd in the Rhodope Mountains.
The Thracian toy is made of bronze mixed with some silver, and is dated to the Late Bronze age, about 1500-1200 BC, the period of Ancient Troy and the Civilization of Mycenae.
It consists of a tripod holding what appears to be a stork's head which can move and "drink water"; it weighs 30 grams. The stork's eyes are made of carnelian -- a semi-precious gemstone found in the Rhodope Mountains in Southern Bulgaria, reports the Bulgarian National Television.
The 3,500-year-old bronze children's toy has been discovered by locals near the town of Yagnevo, Kirkovo Municipality, and together with other archaeological artifacts has bought out by local businessman Alexander Mitushev, a collector who owns a private ethnographic complex in the town of Zlatograd...
Bulgarian scholars, including Assoc. Prof. Krasimir Leshtakov who teaches prehistory and archaeology at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", believe that the artifact is the only children's toy found the Late Bronze age found so far, and the oldest known children's toy in Europe...
To illustrate his point, Ovcharov adds that this was the time described by Homer in the Iliad and Odyssey when the Thracians, their wine, and the magical Rhodope Mountains were cherished; the Thracians' Rhodope Mountains were also mentioned by Herodotus who described them as the "Holy Mountain" together with the central sanctuary of god Dionysus discovered by Ovcharov in the rock sanctuary in Perperikon.
(Excerpt) Read more at archaeologyinbulgaria.com ...
That’s what they said to the young man from Nantuckett. Now he gets around with a Labrador retriever.
Was it made in China? If not, it isn’t a toy... Interesting article, but how do they know it is a toy? Did they find a ‘ToysRUs’ receipt with it?
They didn’t have a bunch of busybody nanny-staters bringing about recalls on toys back then.
True. But I still maintain it's not a toy. Even Thracians are not so stupid to put a sharp object like that in the hands of a toddler. "You'll put your eye out, kid!"
I've seen small weights like that on tripods used for site markers on charts in planning sessions or even just weights for the corners of charts. Their conclusion it must be a toy. . . or something with religious meaning. . . because they couldn't think of anything else is ludicrous, and typical of the nose picking some archaeologists go through thinking the know everything there is to know.
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I agree with your assessment.
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I wonder if they unearthed it in an ancient FAO Schwarz.
I wonder if they unearthed it in an ancient FAO Schwarz.
No - TOYS ‘R US ........
;’)
When I don’t know what something is for, I just call it a poo stick.
“Even Thracians”?!? I hope there aren’t any ancient Thracians reading this, buster. ;’)
It was a special knitting apparatus for making stocking caps.
The excavators couldn’t credibly use the usual ‘explanation’ — that it had a ritual purpose. So, toy.
Hair pin..
“Like today’s balls bouncing off of each other.”
We’re not talking about San Francisco are we?
What? Did you not know that all blonde jokes used to be Thracian jokes? You know, "How many Thracians does it take to change a light bulb? None! They haven't figured out how the switch works yet!" or "How do you know a stone stele is Thracian? Wite-out on the carvings!" or "Did you hear about the Thracian trapped inside a locked chariot?"
You hadn't heard this before? ;^)
What’s the difference between a Thracian queen and the road to Delphi? Not everyone has been on the road to Delphi.
My first thought was weapon. That’s pretty funny though!
Seeing the actual size of the thing swings me back to thinking its a toy. Plus, a kid from a family this rich is going to have a nanny or other servant with him to make sure he doesn’t hurt himself with it.
Here's a 16 sec video in Bulgarian (?) that shows the range of movement.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg4VX133mWQ
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