Study reveals 'oldest jewellery'

BBC ^ | 22 June 2006 | Paul Rincon

[Fractal Trader]

The earliest known pieces of jewellery made by modern humans have been identified by scientists.

The three shell beads are between 90,000 and 100,000 years old, according to an international research team.

The pea-sized items all have similar holes which would have allowed them to be strung together into a necklace or bracelet, the researchers believe.

The finds, which pre-date other ancient examples by 25,000 years, are described in the US journal Science.

It supports my thought that there are no great revolutions in the evolution of modern human behaviour - it is a gradual process

Alison Brooks, George Washington University All three shells come from the same genus of marine mollusc known as Nassarius; they were probably selected for their size and deliberately perforated with a sharp flint tool.

They represent a remarkable early expression of modern behaviour in the archaeological record, experts say.

"The interesting thing about necklaces and this kind of behaviour is that it is symbolic. When we wear items like this, we are sending a message," said co-author Professor Chris Stringer of London's Natural History Museum.

"The message may be that we are powerful, or wealthy, or sexy, that we're part of a particular group, or to ward off evil. They're not just decorative, we think they had a social meaning."

Two of the ancient beads come from Skhul Cave on the slopes of Mount Carmel in Israel. The other comes from the site of Oued Djebbana in Algeria.

[Fractal Trader]

Hmm...I wonder if ancient man had to put away one month's salary to pay for these trinkets.

[Fractal Trader]

ggg ping

[facedown]

It supports my thought that there are no great revolutions in the evolution of modern human behaviour - it is a gradual process.

[edpc]

Hmm...I wonder if ancient man had to put away one month's salary to pay for these trinkets.

Ancient man was likely handing out coal rings. They had not become diamonds, yet.

;-)

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

I need to find some old shells and bore a hole in them to prove something made jewelry 100k years ago.

[MonroeDNA]

Be sure to bury them in soil of the same age.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

New Zealand shellfish often have a number of unwanted squatter organisms living on their shells, including small polychaete worms (marine bristleworms of Phylum Annelida). Some are harmless, and none actually eat their hosts, but those that specialise in boring deep into shells can do severe damage, especially if they penetrate right through to the shell interior. The problems for aquaculturists and shellfishers caused by worms settling on and boring into shells can include spoiled shell shape and quality, internal shell blisters, serious reduction in shell strength, damaged adductor muscles, energy wasted on shell repair, and increased vulnerability to serious pathogens. Worm populations may increase abnormally in intensive cultures of shellfish. The harvested end product can be unsaleable to consumers.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Fractal Trader for the topic and ping.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.

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[elli1]

And don't use a Dremel to drill the holes.

[elli1]

[Dustbunny]

It supports my thought that there are no great revolutions in the evolution of modern human behaviour - it is a gradual process

I have alway thought the same thing.

[Tokra]

But I thought the earth was only 6000 years old????