Archaeology breakthrough: African ostrich eggs relics redefine ancient human history

Researchers have intricately linked the development of ostrich eggs used as jewellery to reveal some 10,000 years of human cultural interaction across Africa in pre-history times. Ostrich eggshell beads are some of the oldest ornaments made by humans, being found to date back at least 50,000 years ago in Arica.

Existing research conducted in South Africa has shown that the beads began to increase in size around 2,000 years ago.

This occurred when herding populations first entered the region.

In the newest study, researchers Jennifer Miller and Elizabeth Sawchuk used the data of increasing size to link to increasing interaction between different groups of peoples – most of which had never before met.

The nature of the link has never before been seen; a groundbreaking first for both archaeology and studies of ancient sociology.

The eggs reveal 10,000 years of cross-cultural interaction

The eggs reveal 10,000 years of cross-cultural interaction (Image: GETTY)

Some of the eggs were found in eastern Africa, where the famous  Dragon Blood Tree rests off the coast of Somalia

Some of the eggs were found in eastern Africa, where the famous Dragon Blood Tree rests off the coa (Image: GETTY)

Researchers recorded the diameters of 1,200 ostrich eggshell beads unearthed from 30 sites in Africa dating back to around 10,000 years.

Many of the bead measurements were taken from existing, decades-old unstudied collections and so were being reported for the first time.

The new data extends to the researchers the scope for study, increasing the published bead diameter measurements from 100 to over 1,000, and reveals new trends that oppose longstanding beliefs.

These ostrich eggshell beads reflect different responses to the introduction of herding between eastern and southern Africa.

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There are multiple ancient natural rock formations in Africa (Image: GETTY)

Bead styles in southern Africa were found to have changed in design, adopting a never before seen tailored take.

Yet, despite their renewal, the older bead styles remained and were not directly replaced by the updated versions.

Contrasting were the beads in eastern Africa that, despite introduction of new herders, kept their traditional style.

Although eastern African bead sizes are consistently larger than those from southern Africa, the larger southern African herder beads fall within the eastern African forager size range, hinting at contact between these regions as herding spread.

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Africa is a well of ancient history

Africa is a well of ancient history (Image: GETTY)

Samples were taken from east Africa and south Africa (pictured)

Samples were taken from east Africa and south Africa (pictured) (Image: GETTY)

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Ancient Egypt is one of Africa’s most famously historic empires (Image: Express Newspapers)

The traditional, existing traditions did not change, rather incorporating new trends with their own styles.

This is significant, as it suggests fears of traditions and heritage dying out as a result of cultural assimilation – for example, migration into countries – may be unfounded.

In eastern Africa, studied here for the first time, there was no apparent change in bead style with the arrival of herding groups from the north

Researchers say this may be because the foragers adopted herding while retaining their bead-making traditions.

Bushmen (san) rock painting of antelopes, South Africa

Bushmen (san) rock painting of antelopes, South Africa (Image: GETTY)

Ms Sawchuk, co-author of the paper, said: “In the modern world, migration, cultural contact, and economic change often create tension.

“Ancient peoples experienced these situations too, and the patterns in cultural objects like ostrich eggshell beads give us a chance to study how they navigated these experiences.”

Both researchers hope the study will inspire renewed interest in both ostrich eggshell beads and the intricate links between historic peoples who had no prior contact with each other.

source: express.co.uk