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We often find ourselves in awe of the modern innovations that have made our lives far easier than those of our ancestors. While some of these creations have been hazardous, the majority have undoubtedly improved the way we live.
However, many of the comforts we take for granted today have been around in some form for millennia. Without the advantages of modern manufacturing techniques and materials, our ancestors relied on their ingenuity to solve everyday problems.
10. Greenlandic Seal Fur Thongs
Throughout history, clothing has generally become more revealing. However, the modern thong is surprisingly an ancient invention, one that Greenlandic Inuits have been wearing for several centuries.
The naatsit is a traditional G-string-like garment crafted from seal fur, chosen for its strength and its ability to maintain a comfortable temperature—neither too hot nor too cold. It’s sewn together using reindeer or whale sinews and adorned with decorative beads or even the head of a seal on the codpiece.
Both men and women wore this undergarment. They might hide it under a thicker pair of seal fur pants or wear just the naatsit when relaxing at home, often leaving Danish missionaries who visited quite shocked.
9. Sacred 20-Sided Die
Dice have existed for millennia, but the Met Museum houses the oldest known D20—a 20-sided icosahedron from Egypt, dating back to the Ptolemaic Period, making it over 2,000 years old.
Little is known about this die, other than it stands 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) tall, is made from serpentine (a rock marked with snake-like patterns), and bears Greek letters. Its history can be traced only about 100 years ago when Reverend Chauncey Murch, well, obtained it during his missionary work in Egypt.
However, it’s doubtful that its ancient creators designed it for tabletop RPGs or gambling. Instead, this ancient D20, along with other old dice, was likely used for divination or in religious rituals.
8. Mosquito-Repellent Cave Bedding
Ancient bedding found in South Africa shows that “cavemen” were far more inventive than they are typically credited. Archaeologists uncovered 77,000-year-old mattresses at the Sibudu site, tucked inside a cave carved from sandstone cliffs.
These ancient people demonstrated an impressive knowledge of local plants, constructing their beds from at least 15 layers of medicinal vegetation, including sedges, rushes, and grasses. Notably, they used river wild-quince, known for its mosquito-repelling and bug-killing qualities.
The Sibudu mattresses are 50,000 years older than the next-oldest bedding and remarkably comfortable due to their 30-centimeter (12-inch) height. They were regularly refreshed with new plants and remained in use for an astonishing 39,000 years.
7. Cypriot Opium Jugs
Ancient civilizations indulged in a range of drugs common to their respective regions. Inhabitants of the Fertile Crescent brewed alcohol, while Mesoamericans favored psychoactive plants. Recently, scientists have uncovered the first evidence of drug use in the Near East as well.
In a region traditionally known for its conservatism, researchers uncovered a large kitchen-like area where ancient Cypriots produced ritualistic drugs and medicines in bulk, including substances derived from opium and some made from the more mild chamomile.
After processing their opium, the Cypriots stored it in uniquely shaped jugs resembling opium poppies, marking one of the earliest examples of branding. These jugs were found at local religious sites and even in distant lands like the Levant and Egypt, hinting at an opium trade that dates back around 4,000 years.
6. Ancient Egyptian Hair Extensions
The Egyptians viewed hair as a symbol of status and invented both hair extensions and gels to look their best, in both life and death. A 3,300-year-old body discovered at Amarna displayed “a very complex coiffure with approximately 70 extensions” attached to various parts of the head. Archaeologists have uncovered several other Egyptian mummies with hair extensions that have remarkably survived and still look impressive, given the passage of time.
In a similar vein, an analysis of 18 mummies, aged between 4 and 58 years old, dating back as far as 3,500 years, revealed that nine of them had traces of a fatty substance in their hair: gel. It was likely a luxury for the elite and was applied to both the living and the deceased, ensuring that no hair strayed during their journey to the afterlife.
5. Ancient Floral Bubble Wrap
In 2014, archaeologists unearthed a collection of Roman bronze pots in Wiltshire, England. While the pots themselves were impressive, what set this discovery apart was the dried organic material found around them.
It turns out that the ancient 1,500-year-old pots were wrapped in what can be considered history’s oldest bubble wrap. Pollen analysis uncovered a blend of bracken, knapweed, and other local plants and flowers, such as clover and buttercup.
The analysis also provided a date. Based on the preserved state of the plants, researchers estimate that the pots were buried during the late summer, around the fifth or sixth century.
4. Moche Symbolic Pottery
The pre-Inca Moche civilization of northern Peru thrived for 700 years before eventually disappearing due to likely environmental factors, whose exact causes remain a mystery.
Along with temples, tombs, and irrigation systems, the Moche left behind a remarkable collection of the most exquisite and imaginative pre-Columbian ceramics. Remarkably, they achieved this without the use of the pottery wheel.
Unlike the plain and uninspired pottery produced by other cultures, the Moche created vessels shaped like animals, plants, portraits, and scenes from both religious and natural life. Some of these ceramics were sent as royal gifts to neighboring communities, while others found their place in tombs as burial offerings.
3. The First Toy Car
A collection of 5,000-year-old children’s toys was discovered at one of the world’s oldest settlements. Among the items was the earliest-known toy “car”—an earthen, four-wheeled chariot.
A toy chariot was discovered within a complex of tombs in the ancient city of Sogmatar, Turkey, which served as both a necropolis and a religious center devoted to the Moon god, Sin. One of the tombs, likely belonging to a child, contained the wheeled toy along with a rattle that featured a bird motif.
The rattle, like the chariot, holds the distinction of being the oldest of its kind. Given the elaborate nature of these toys, they were likely reserved for the children of royalty or other prominent figures from the Bronze Age.
2. Stunning Roman Cameo Glass
Early glassmaking was a cumbersome process. Due to the rudimentary techniques, only about one bottle could be produced each week, making glassware as valuable as precious metals and gems.
In 50 BC, the Romans introduced glassblowing, a groundbreaking technique that made shaping glass far easier. When this innovation was paired with advanced furnace technology, the Romans quickly shifted from producing glass by the pound to creating delicate glass pieces by the ton. Initially, this caused a dip in its value, but the Romans managed to restore its luxury status with the creation of the flawless “cameo” glass, which was produced between 27 BC and AD 68.
The Romans perfected the process of layering glass bubbles, then meticulously carving them to produce multicolored glass that was even more stunning than the highly prized sardonyx (layered onyx). Their creations were often decorated with depictions of gods and scenes from everyday life.
1. Luxurious Viking Feather Pillows
Although the Vikings are typically remembered for their raids, they also crafted some of the most opulent pillows and duvets in history. Archaeologists uncovered Viking burial mounds in Norway, revealing that the graves contained beautifully furnished sleeping arrangements.
The Vikings equipped their beds with lavish comforts, including pillows and duvets filled with a thoughtful mix of feathers. Research has shown that the Vikings didn’t settle for just any feathers; they chose a combination of both rare and common bird feathers to create bedding that was both soft and supportive.
Feathers from crows and eider ducks were used, with the eider duck's feathers providing warmth. For added luxury, the Vikings also included feathers from the magnificent Eurasian eagle-owl, one of the largest owls in Eurasia.
