Latest news with #NationalMuseumofDenmark
New York Post
12-06-2025
- Science
- New York Post
Archaeologists uncover 4,500-year-old baby rattles that reveal ancient parenting techniques
Recent research shows that parents have long looked for ways to keep their children entertained – including during the Bronze Age. The National Museum of Denmark recently announced the discovery of 4,500-year-old baby rattles from Syria. The research, which also involved historians from Archéorient CNRS in France and the University of Milan, was recently published in the journal Childhood in the Past. In the May 19 press release, the Danish museum said the rattles were mass-produced by professional potters in the ancient city of Hama. A total of 19 rattles were found in a residential quarter of the city, making the discovery the largest of its kind in the Near East. The rattles contained small pebbles or pieces of clay. 5 The National Museum of Denmark recently announced the discovery of 4,500-year-old baby rattles from Syria. John Fhær Engedal Nissen, the National Museum of Denmark. They were made from the same mixture of clay as professionally made pottery in Hama, which suggests the rattles 'were part of the potters' professional range alongside other ceramic wares,' the museum said. 'They were probably sold at the market to parents who wanted to entertain – or distract – their children,' the press release noted. How do archaeologists know the toys were designed for children? For one, the rattlers make such a low noise it's unlikely that they were used as musical instruments. 5 The Danish museum said the rattles were mass-produced by professional potters in the ancient city of Hama. John Fhær Engedal Nissen, the National Museum of Denmark. Experts also observed that the handles are 'very small and not suitable for adults, but they fit exactly into a small child's hand,' the release said. National Museum of Denmark researcher Mette Marie Hald, one of the co-authors of the study, said the material culture of children is often overlooked in archaeology. 'When you find items such as these, the tendency in archaeology has been to interpret them as musical instruments or even cultic objects when, really, they are something much more down-to-earth and relatable such as toys for children,' Hald said. 5 A total of 19 rattles were found in a residential quarter of the city, making the discovery the largest of its kind in the Near East. Jacob Hald, the National Museum of Denmark. She said that the millennia-old toys aided the sensory and motor development of young ones, just as rattles do today. 'It shows us that parents in the past loved their children and invested in their well-being and their sensorimotor development, just as we do today,' she said. 'Perhaps parents also needed to distract their children now and then so that they could have a bit of peace and quiet to themselves. Today, we use screens. Back then, it was rattles.' 5 Experts observed that the handles are 'very small and not suitable for adults, but they fit exactly into a small child's hand.' National Museum of Denmark, drawing and photos: G Mouamar Hald said she hopes the discovery 'provide[s] us with a greater insight into the world of children in the past … From an economic point of view, it is fascinating that already 4,500 years ago, there was an actual market for commercial toys.' 'At the same time, it is touching to get a glimpse of a family's everyday life – perhaps a parent stopped at a market stand on their way home and bought a rattle as a present for their child.' 'This scenario is entirely recognizable to us today.' 5 The millennia-old toys aided the sensory and motor development of young ones, just as rattles do today. National Museum of Denmark, drawing and photos: G Mouamar Many remnants of the Bronze Age still survive after thousands of years. Earlier this year, a Bronze Age settlement was uncovered by archaeologists in the United Kingdom amid highway construction. In Turkey, a well-preserved loaf of 5,000-year-old bread was recently discovered, inspiring local bakers to develop a copycat recipe.
Fox News
12-06-2025
- Science
- Fox News
Archaeologists uncover 4,500-year-old baby rattles that reveal ancient parenting techniques
Recent research shows that parents have long looked for ways to keep their children entertained – including during the Bronze Age. The National Museum of Denmark recently announced the discovery of 4,500-year-old baby rattles from Syria. The research, which also involved historians from Archéorient CNRS in France and the University of Milan, was recently published in the journal Childhood in the Past. In the May 19 press release, the Danish museum said the rattles were mass-produced by professional potters in the ancient city of Hama. A total of 19 rattles were found in a residential quarter of the city, making the discovery the largest of its kind in the Near East. The rattles contained small pebbles or pieces of clay. They were made from the same mixture of clay as professionally made pottery in Hama, which suggests the rattles "were part of the potters' professional range alongside other ceramic wares," the museum said. "They were probably sold at the market to parents who wanted to entertain – or distract – their children," the press release noted. "Today, we use screens. Back then, it was rattles." How do archaeologists know the toys were designed for children? For one, the rattlers make such a low noise it's unlikely that they were used as musical instruments. Experts also observed that the handles are "very small and not suitable for adults, but they fit exactly into a small child's hand," the release said. National Museum of Denmark researcher Mette Marie Hald, one of the co-authors of the study, said the material culture of children is often overlooked in archaeology. "When you find items such as these, the tendency in archaeology has been to interpret them as musical instruments or even cultic objects when, really, they are something much more down-to-earth and relatable such as toys for children," Hald said. She said that the millennia-old toys aided the sensory and motor development of young ones, just as rattles do today. "It shows us that parents in the past loved their children and invested in their well-being and their sensorimotor development, just as we do today," she said. "Perhaps parents also needed to distract their children now and then so that they could have a bit of peace and quiet to themselves. Today, we use screens. Back then, it was rattles." Hald said she hopes the discovery "provide[s] us with a greater insight into the world of children in the past … From an economic point of view, it is fascinating that already 4,500 years ago, there was an actual market for commercial toys." "At the same time, it is touching to get a glimpse of a family's everyday life – perhaps a parent stopped at a market stand on their way home and bought a rattle as a present for their child." "This scenario is entirely recognizable to us today." Many remnants of the Bronze Age still survive after thousands of years. Earlier this year, a Bronze Age settlement was uncovered by archaeologists in the United Kingdom amid highway construction. In Turkey, a well-preserved loaf of 5,000-year-old bread was recently discovered, inspiring local bakers to develop a copycat recipe.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
Sun Chariot: An ornate Bronze Age treasure that may have featured in an ancient Nordic religious ceremony
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Name: Sun Chariot What it is: A bronze and gold leaf diorama of a horse pulling a sun disk Where it is from: Trundholm moor, in Zealand, Denmark When it was made: Circa 1400 B.C. Related: Prosciutto di Portici: A portable sundial that looks like a pork leg — and it was likely owned by Julius Caesar's father-in-law before Mount Vesuvius erupted What it tells us about the past: Three centuries after horse-drawn chariots were introduced to Scandinavia, a Bronze Age artisan crafted the Sun Chariot, a stunningly detailed object that may represent an ancient mythological scene or even a rare calendar. The Sun Chariot was discovered in 1902 by a peat farmer who was working on the Trundholm moor in Denmark, about 42 miles (67 kilometers) northwest of Copenhagen. It was found in numerous pieces and has since been reconstructed by experts at the National Museum of Denmark, where it is on display. Taken as a whole, the bronze object is about 21 inches (54 centimeters) long and 14 inches (35 cm) tall. The large disk is covered in a thin layer of gold on one side and decorated with spirals, which are commonly found on Nordic Bronze Age artifacts, according to Flemming Kaul, curator of the prehistory collections at the National Museum. Kaul has interpreted the artifact as representing a prehistoric Bronze Age idea of the voyage of the sun, as the divine horse pulls the sun across the heavens from east to west during the day and into the underworld at night. Spirals on the disk and the use of wheels may indicate the sun's constant journey, and the object may have been used by ancient priests to demonstrate the astronomical myth. MORE ASTONISHING ARTIFACTS —Ram in the Thicket: A 4,500-year-old gold statue from the royal cemetery at Ur —Oseberg tapestry: Viking Age artwork from a boat burial that may depict the Norse tree of life —Hatnefer's heart scarab: An exquisite ancient Egyptian gold necklace inscribed with the Book of the Dead An alternative interpretation of the disk is that it represents a prehistoric calendar. In a 2006 study, Danish archaeologist Klavs Randsborg argued that there was an interesting mathematical pattern in the concentric circles on the disk, and he pointed out that the total number of ornamental designs on the gilded side of the sun is 52, or the number of weeks in a year. And a 2008 study by astronomers Rahlf Hansen and Christine Rink posited that the Sun Chariot was a movable calendar that could predict lunar eclipses. In 2011, the Sun Chariot was put on the Danish 1,000-krone banknote. As of June 1, 2025, however, this banknote is no longer legal tender due to changes the Danish government is making to its cash currency.
Daily Mirror
08-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
Simon Reeve picks his best city on the planet having explored 130 countries
BBC presenter Simon Reeve has travelled to more than 130 countries during his career - and there's one city that he loves more than anywhere else BBC adventurer Simon Reeve has called a certain city situated at the crossroads of East and West his top pick in the world. He shared his deep affection for a place where he said history and culture are almost tangible. Simon, with over 130 countries under his belt, recently concluded a Scandinavian adventure filming 'Scandinavia with Simon Reeve' – a stunning three-part series for the BBC. And following this he has now disclosed his prized city. His choice hinges on a metropolis that spans the continents of Europe and Asia and houses an awe-inspiring edifice rated as "one of the most stunning buildings on the planet". He told The Express: "In terms of a city, I think Istanbul is not just spectacular, but you can't go there and not smell the history and the culture there. You know, I love how it's clearly divided. You've got your old bit. "You've got your modern bit. You've got your Eastern area, as well - the other side of the Bosphorus, Asia, basically. It is the point where, for a thousand years and more, the East and the West have met." Talking about what he calls his "favourite little quirky thing", Simon zeroes in on Hagia Sophia – the venerable former basilica, now a grand mosque, which is some 1,600 years old. He detailed how this iconic site serves as an open attraction while retaining its status as an "incredible building". He remarked: "I'll tell you my favourite little quirky thing actually, in many a way; there's a building in Istanbul called Hagia Sophia, which was a church, then a mosque, is now sort of a museum, just open as an attraction." Simon continued: "But it's an incredible building - one of the most stunning buildings on the planet, and up at the top, inside on the upper balcony, there's a bit of graffiti carved into the balcony." He was alluding to ancient Viking runes etched into the Hagia Sophia during its time as a church. The National Museum of Denmark has identified the Viking visitors as Halvdan and Are. Atlas Obscura reports that the inscription likely says "Halfdan carved these runes" or "Halfdan was here", a discovery that Simon found particularly enchanting, calling it his "favourite little bit". For the presenter, uncovering the tale of the rune-carving Vikings was a "chill down the spine moment", highlighting that people have been explorers since the dawn of humanity. He observed that throughout history, humans have always had the urge to leave their imprint and connect with these "incredible sights". He concluded: "It's just a reminder that our ancestors travelled, and they were quite similar to us, actually. They probably wanted a beer, a selfie, and to leave a little bit of a mark behind." All three episodes of Scandinavia with Simon Reeve are available for streaming on BBC iPlayer NOW.
National Geographic
30-05-2025
- Science
- National Geographic
These 4,500-year-old rattles may be among the world's oldest toys
Clay rattles made in Syria about 4,500 years ago were designed to 'amuse and calm' infants, according to a new study. But some archaeologists think they were used in rituals to dispel evil spirits, or that they might have served both purposes. 'They have little handles that are too small for me, and I have quite small hands,' says archaeologist Mette Marie Hald from the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen. 'They are for infants or toddlers.' In the new study published in the journal Childhood in the Past, Hald and her co-authors describe artifacts kept by the museum after excavations of an ancient mound in Hama in Syria in the 1930s. The possible playthings are among the oldest toys in the archaeological record. (Who made these unusual ancient 'puppets'—and left them atop a pyramid?) Early excavations Many of the artifacts ended up in museums throughout the Middle East, including Syria's National Museum of Damascus. But the expedition members took some back to Denmark, where they were placed in storage until Hald and her colleagues re-examined them. The new analysis has established that at least 21 of the clay fragments come from rattles made between about 4,500 and 4,000 years ago, during the Early Bronze Age, when Hama was one of several ancient city-states in the region. Hald says part of one rattle had been misidentified as a 'sieve' because it contained holes; and the hollow handle of another was mislabeled as 'piping.' Examples of handles and bodies from the Hama rattle assemblage are superimposed over the outline of a complete rattle from another site in Syria called Al-Zalaqiyat. Photoillustration by G. Mouamar, the National Museum of Denmark Bronze Age rattles or wards against evil? The analysis shows the fragments are almost identical in style and size to an unbroken rattle found at an ancient cemetery a few miles north of Hama, named Al-Zalaqiyat, and to rattles from other Early Bronze Age sites now held at the museum in Damascus. Those rattles were filled with pebbles or small clay pellets, to make a noise when they were shaken—similar to some modern baby toys—and so the authors suggest they were designed for small children to play with. Some archaeologists have proposed that the rattles were 'apotropaic'—meaning the noise they made was designed to ward off evil spirits—or that they were used as musical instruments. But the study's lead author, archaeologist Georges Mouamar of the National Museum of Denmark and the French research agency CNRS, carried out experiments with the rattle from Al-Zalaqiyat and determined it was too small to have made much noise. 'It just made a tiny little sound,' Hald says. 'It wouldn't have been very entertaining as a musical instrument.' The Hama fragments were also found in what had been a domestic neighborhood, rather than a temple or a burial ground; and this strengthened the idea they were used by children, Hald says. The analysis also determined that the Hama fragments were made from the same distinctive mix of clays as commercial pottery from the ancient city—implying the rattles were made by professional potters for sale at street markets to parents. The Hama rattles seem well-finished, with intricate designs in pottery glaze that support the idea they were made by professionals, Hald says. Hama was a regional center during the Early Bronze Age, and so the rattles may have been mass produced there for sale elsewhere. Other types of rattles have been found in other parts of Syria and the Middle East—rattles shaped like animals, for example, are often found in northern Syria—and so it is likely local potters made them in locally popular styles, she says. Fragments of 4500-year-old baby rattles match the chemical makeup of other ceramic housewares from Hama. Photograph by John Fhær Engedal Nissen, the National Museum of Denmark The new study has stirred debate among experts over whether the Hama rattles and others like them served a ritual or playful purpose. Archaeologist Elynn Gorris of Belgium's University of Louvain, who was not involved in the study, is concerned that the Hama rattles, while small, would have been too large and heavy for babies to hold. But she allows that they would have been suitable for toddlers. Gorris notes that similar rattles have been found at archaeological sites in the Americas—including a similar rattle from California that may be up to 1,000 years old—where evidence indicates they were used traditionally in rituals and for making music, as they still are today. But 'this is not about wrong or right—this is an inclusive story,' she says. 'These could have been used by toddlers, but that doesn't exclude the fact that they could have been percussion instruments to keep rhythm for adults, for lullabies or for ritual songs.' Archaeologist Kristine Garroway, a professor at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles who has studied clay rattles from the ancient Levant, is 'very convinced' by the study's findings. But she also thinks the rattles may have had a 'dual use,' first as apotropaic devices to scare evil spirits from homes and then as noisemakers to amuse small children. 'These could have been used in multiple different ways,' she says. (What can we learn from a Bronze Age lunchbox?) If the rattles are toys, then they are some of the earliest that survive—other contenders include a 5000-year-old chariot from Turkey and a 4000-year-old stone head, possibly from a doll, from an Italian island. The fact the researchers are thinking about ancient children is important, notes Garroway: 'Children get overlooked in the archaeological record, [so] to even stop and think that children could have been using these objects is amazing.' For Hald, all the evidence indicates the Hama rattles were designed to keep small children entertained. 'Parents in the past loved their children, just as we do today,' she says. 'But perhaps parents also needed to distract their children now and then so that they could have a bit of peace and quiet to themselves. Today, we use screens, back then it was rattles.'
