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Earliest Human Beds Found In South Africa

Posted by samzenpus on from the earliest-to-bed dept.

sciencehabit writes "A team working in South Africa claims to have found the earliest known sleeping mats, made of plant material and dated up to 77,000 years ago—50,000 years earlier than previous evidence for human bedding. These early mattresses apparently were even specially prepared to be resistant to mosquitoes and other insects."

10 of 102 comments (clear)

  1. 77,000 years? Bah! by Pastor+Jake · · Score: 5, Funny

    My friends in the Word,

    These atheist-backed scientists have surely fabricated these so-called "sleeping mats," as it is clearly outlined in the Bible that God created Adam and Eve 5,000 years ago. Note that I am not questioning the existence of these mats, as these could have possibly BEEN used by Adam or one of his descendants after being thrown out of Eden, I am questioning the "evidence" of their age from the so-called "carbon-dating" process. I wish these scientists well with their work and pray that they will break free from the yoke of grants from godless individuals and governments.

    Your friend,
    Jake

    1. Re:77,000 years? Bah! by Weaselmancer · · Score: 5, Funny

      It's a good thing his belief system doesn't believe in karma.

      --
      Weaselmancer
      rediculous.
    2. Re:77,000 years? Bah! by TxRv · · Score: 5, Informative

      They have revised the date a bit. Sextus Julius put it at 5500 BC, while the current estimates, based on the Masoritic text of the Tanakh, are all around 4000 BC. (This also conveniently pushed the date sextus picked for the apocalypse (6000 years after creation) up by about 1500 years.)

      Must've been a confusing time for the Sumerians. http://www.theonion.com/articles/sumerians-look-on-in-confusion-as-god-creates-worl,2879/

    3. Re:77,000 years? Bah! by PPH · · Score: 4, Funny

      Must've been a confusing time for the Sumerians. http://www.theonion.com/articles/sumerians-look-on-in-confusion-as-god-creates-worl,2879/

      God must be a consultant. He comes in near the end of a project and takes credit for everything.

      --
      Have gnu, will travel.
  2. Malm? by RackinFrackin · · Score: 4, Funny

    Did it come from IKEA?

  3. Whaaaaa?? by EdIII · · Score: 4, Funny

    For people wondering how a mattress could possibly be mosquito resistant it was because it was made out of a specific plant that was a natural insecticide.

    Which begs the question, was that lost technology? I don't see Africans using it for the past couple thousand years or anyone else.

    My favorite from the article:

    "There were no rules for separate eating, working, or sleeping places," she says. "Breakfast in bed may have been an almost daily occurrence."

    Perhaps not. I am sure there was the, "Don't touch Thag's shit rule" though.

    1. Re:Whaaaaa?? by EdIII · · Score: 4, Funny

      Wow.

      Thank You. My informal use of an oft misquoted phrase was inexcusable. I have been shamed sir, and I hereby undertake not to make any such utterances in the future, as it offends all civilized people, bruises fruit, and scares children. I humbly ask your pardon and your continued tolerance of my rampant ignorance.

      Your generous attention to my logical and grammatical failures all the more impressive and deeply moving, since it meant taking you away from the wild parties, Grammar Nazi groupie orgies, and generally, a life of fame, fortune, and excitement to come call me out on the Internets in the middle of the night.

      I shall name my two first born sons (twins god willing) Vortex and Cortex in your honor sir.

      Forever grateful, My I please have another,

      Ed III

  4. No doubt ... by PPH · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... they found the TV remote underneath one.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
  5. Re:Slow by froggymana · · Score: 4, Funny

    SLOW day at Slashdot.

    Slow day.

    You could just go lay down on a bed and talk a nap instead of reading slashdot then.

    --
    "To prevent this day from getting any worse, I'll just read ERROR as GOOD THING" 1GJU8xLuDKDxEs4KLf8fAGyptoDsqvEsBT
  6. Astounding: Protruding Leaf on Each Mattress by iggymanz · · Score: 5, Funny

    Dr. Wadley today announced an incredible discovery relating to the prehistoric mattresses, each had a protruding leaf with sub-millimeter perforations. These perforations outlined words on the leaves: "Do Not Remove Under Penalty of Law. Tongati River Mattress Works. Composition 35% Sedges, 40% Rushes, 25% Grasses. Machine Wash Cold. Do Not Bleach. Machine Drying May Degrade Flame Retardant, Please Hang Dry".