Oldest Jewelry? "Beads" Discovered in African Cave

National Geographic News ^ | April 15, 2004 | Hillary Mayell

[balrog666]

75,000 year old Mardi Gras beads.

[balrog666]

Ping please.

[Constitution Day]

Ancient bling bling ping...

[eno_]

So, if we have been genetically modern for 200,000 years or more, why did our minds become more powerful only 45,000 years ago?

[Constitution Day]

SA ping.

[cyborg]

http://minotaur.marques.co.za/clients/zulu/

Makes sense to me. The more I look at different beadwork the more they look the same. very interesting!

[Constitution Day]

Thanks for the link.
I didn't get to see much of the Zulu beadwork there, but the Ndebele stuff was really amazing.

[cyborg]

If I ever went, I'd never buy from those cliched tourist traps. The street hawkers and such made the best and cost less and that's how they earn a living. The beadwork is breathtaking and every one is a bit different and so its one of a kind.

[NotQuiteCricket]

So, if we have been genetically modern for 200,000 years or more, why did our minds become more powerful only 45,000 years ago?

That was my question too. Cause, like if we are the same "form factor" as it were, what tripped the switch to make us self aware (the rational why beads are accepted as instance of "modern" thinking - self decoration).
Anyone had any apples lately?

[Constitution Day]

You're absolutely right.

We bought the nicest stuff from some Ndebele women who had set up on the street in Pilgrims Rest, which is a historic gold mining village in Mpumalanga.
The tourist trap shops were way overpriced.

[PatrickHenry]

PING. [This list is for the evolution side of evolution threads, and some other science topics like cosmology. Long-time list members get all pings, but can request evo-only status. New additions will be evo-only, but can request all pings. FReepmail me to be added or dropped. Specify all pings or you'll get evo-pings only.]

[Sacajaweau]

The more I look at them, the more they look the same.

Maybe a structural weakness in this type of shell. I'd be interested in finding an undamaged one of the same age.

[cyborg]

Now that would be a find!

[Sacajaweau]

IMHO...All of man has the knowldege necessary for survival.

I always laugh at the "invention" of the wheel. Watching a rock roll down a hill is sufficient to cause this invention. The "invention" part of the wheel is use or purpose.

I remember picking up little shells at the seashore when I was a kid and putting them in a box for whatever reason. I suppose if I was real bored, I would have thought of making a necklace out of them or creating a purpose to suit my wants. I didn't though. I did however paint the little flat rocks we found along the shore. One might consider it "creative" or "intelligent" but frankly, I think it's no big deal and thousands before me would think of the same thing.

[Physicist]

75,000 year old Mardi Gras beads.

Back then, women had to cover their breasts to get them.

[Pharmboy]

Anthropology only ranks behind sociology and psychology in its devotion to poloitical correctness and leftist ideology. Please take their pronouncements with the proverbial grain of salt.

[dljordan]

We were genetically altered by aliens.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[farmfriend]

Gods, Graves, Glyphs
List for articles regarding early civilizations , life of all forms, - dinosaurs - etc.
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[nopardons]

Zulu beadwork is beautiful! My s-i-l's sister sent us some Zulu bedadworked Christmas tree ornaments,which are lovely.