Scientists discover 50,000-year-old social network

German historians and archaeologists have collectedOstrich eggshell beads reveal 50,000-year-old social network in Africamore than one and a half thousand beads at three dozen different sites in the southern and eastern parts of Africa. Examining the finds, they came to the conclusion that with the help of beads, representatives of local tribes entered into alliances and trade agreements, and transmitted other important information.

Scientists compared the thickness of the walls of the eggshells from which the beads were made, as well as the diameter of their holes and other characteristics. It turned out that the crafts are 50 thousand years old. years, found in 3 thousand years. km from each other, were almost the same. This prompted experts to think about certain standards that the beads had to meet. Consequently, they were used not only as decorations.

Historians have compared beads to a social network. Crafts also brought people together across vast distances and allowed information to be shared.

Study co-author Dr Jennifer Miller noted:

The first eggshell beads appeared more than 75,000 years ago. years ago and are consideredTrail of African bling reveals 50,000-year-old social networkone of the oldest forms of adornment of the human body. Before that, people used mainly drawings with red ocher and other bright compositions.

The bead-based social network lasted about 17,000 years. years. Subsequently, this method of information exchange ceased to be used in South Africa, and later in East Africa. Miller and her colleagues believe that the reason for this is climate change on the continent.

African tribes of hunters and gatherers create beads from the shell of ostrich eggs today. But they are used mainly for ritual purposes for sale to tourists.