Baby Rattles Were Mass-Produced in Bronze Age Syria

Archaeology Magazine ^ | May 27, 2025 | editors / unattributed

[SunkenCiv]

Bronze Age potters working in the city of Hama in current-day Syria appear to have sold more than just cups, bowels, and dishes 4,500 years ago -- they apparently also sold children's toys. Past excavations at the site have uncovered 19 small clay artifacts that contained bits of clay or small pebbles that produce a sound when shaken. Originally, they were thought to have been musical instruments. However, according to a statement released by the National Museum of Denmark, these objects have now been reinterpreted as baby rattles. Researchers determined that the sound that the artifacts produced was much too low to make them effective as instruments. Moreover, the items had handles that were very small and not suitable for adults. They do fit precisely into a small child's hand. Analysis of the clay from which the rattles were formed proved to have the exact same composition as professionally made ceramics at the site, leading the researchers to believe that these toys were mass-produced and sold at markets alongside all other types of pottery. "Perhaps parents needed to distract their children now and then so that they could have a bit of peace and quiet to themselves," said researcher Mette Marie Hald. "Today, we use screens, back then it was rattles."

[SunkenCiv]

Baby rattle fragments

© The National Museum of Denmark/Drawing and photos: G. Mouamar

[SunkenCiv]

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Did they find ancient warning signs in the baby rattle factory, too?

[Hebrews 11:6]

Archaeology Magazine ^ | May 27, 2025 | editors

more than just cups, bowels, and dishes

Editors? EDITORS?

At any rate, the ubiquity today of soft baby pacifiers suggests they too were produced but perhaps weren't rugged enough to survive until now.

[SunkenCiv]

Probably has a baby at home and A) isn’t getting much sleep and B) changes a lot of diapers. ;^)

[rx]

Can't be!   It was Eli Whitney, who in 1793, invented the interchangeable parts assembly line for his cotton gin.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

At any rate, the ubiquity today of soft baby pacifiers suggests they too were produced but perhaps weren't rugged enough to survive until now.

Back before pacifiers were a thing people would give their kids "sugar or honey tits".

You would not see much sign of them after a few thousand years.

[Adder]

Back before pacifiers were a thing people would give their kids “sugar or honey tits”.

That’s why I love FR...you learn new things!

I did not know they came in flavors!

[rxh4n1]

“Editors? EDITORS?”

There are no editors. Spell check is now the editor.

[Kudsman]

Lol. Thanks for the morning chuckle.

[If You Want It Fixed - Fix It]

Stopped mass producing them 8n the 21st century. No need.

[BiteYourSelf]

What kind of bird is a honey tit.😇

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

The kind that hangs out on street corners. Their call is "hey honey..." :)

Seriously a honey tit was a chunk of honey comb wrapped up in cloth. You gave it to a baby to keep them from crying.

[BiteYourSelf]

Just make sure you remove all bees.😏