Philosophy
It was inevitable. Like so many ancient discoveries...chance and reasoning. How many had to suffer or die before these discoveries.
Almost 80,000 years before humans began using chemical sprays to control insect pests, Africans were using mattresses made from bug-repelling plants to ensure a good night's sleep.
The finding, published in the journal Science on Friday, derives from 77,000-year-old plant bedding found in a cave in South Africa's KwaZulu Natal province. The find is 50,000 years older than any previous prehistoric beds discovered.
The bed's insect-repelling capabilities suggest ancient humans were well aware of the chemical and medicinal properties of some plants.
"The leaves contained chemicals that repelled mosquitoes and other insects, so we know that they understood medicinal plants," said Lyn Wadley, an archaeology professor at the University of the Witwatersrand.
The bedding would have helped reduce insect-borne disease, although early humans would not have made any connection between mosquitoes and malaria, she told Reuters.
"It was for comfort. They would have known that those leaves kept away insects and maybe other pests as well," Wadley said.
The bedding consists of thick layers of compacted stems and leaves of sedges and rushes collected from the banks of a nearby river.
In the last few years, scientists have made a series of startling discoveries in South Africa shedding light on the lives of early humans.
In October, researchers at the Blombos Cave 300 km (200 miles) east of Cape Town discovered a 100,000 year-old painting kit consisting of abalone shells, colour pigments and bone spatulas used to work up a paste.
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Philosophy
Pest control for ancient humans
It was inevitable. Like so many ancient discoveries...chance and reasoning. How many had to suffer or die before these discoveries.
"Scientists say ancient human bedding used for pest control"
by
Ed Stoddard
December 9th, 2011
Reuters
by
Ed Stoddard
December 9th, 2011
Reuters
Almost 80,000 years before humans began using chemical sprays to control insect pests, Africans were using mattresses made from bug-repelling plants to ensure a good night's sleep.
The finding, published in the journal Science on Friday, derives from 77,000-year-old plant bedding found in a cave in South Africa's KwaZulu Natal province. The find is 50,000 years older than any previous prehistoric beds discovered.
The bed's insect-repelling capabilities suggest ancient humans were well aware of the chemical and medicinal properties of some plants.
"The leaves contained chemicals that repelled mosquitoes and other insects, so we know that they understood medicinal plants," said Lyn Wadley, an archaeology professor at the University of the Witwatersrand.
The bedding would have helped reduce insect-borne disease, although early humans would not have made any connection between mosquitoes and malaria, she told Reuters.
"It was for comfort. They would have known that those leaves kept away insects and maybe other pests as well," Wadley said.
The bedding consists of thick layers of compacted stems and leaves of sedges and rushes collected from the banks of a nearby river.
In the last few years, scientists have made a series of startling discoveries in South Africa shedding light on the lives of early humans.
In October, researchers at the Blombos Cave 300 km (200 miles) east of Cape Town discovered a 100,000 year-old painting kit consisting of abalone shells, colour pigments and bone spatulas used to work up a paste.
- Stink Bugs And Facebook
FBC writes, I plant a decent sized garden. I grow tomatoes, several types of squash, zucchini, pumpkins, and various peppers. I?m thinking of trying corn this coming year too. The last couple of years have been rough. Between the blight and various pests...
- Drug-resistant Bacteria...pathway To Man's Demise?
The Lachuguilla cave system, where scientists discovered antibiotic-resistant bacteria, is part of Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico. Above, an explorer admires the the Selenite Chandelier display in Carlsbad Caverns."Drug-Resistant Bacteria...
- Neanderthals Cooked Their Vegetables
An interesting story. I often wondered how many lives were lost before ancient man realized which plants were poisonous, medicinal, and tasty and the same with hunting technology or even sex and communication. "Neanderthals cooked and ate vegetables"...
- 700 New Species...from Indian Amber
"Ancient Amber Reveals 700 New Insect Species" October 26th, 2010 Science News Researchers have discovered more than 700 new species of prehistoric insects in a 50-million-year-old amber deposit in India. The 330 lb. deposit, dubbed Cambay amber, was...
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"The DDT debacle" by Wiida Basson May 2010 Science in Africa While an estimated 880 000 people – most of them young children – die each year of malaria in the developing world, we may underestimate the potential effects of continued DDT use on future...