“”If you wanted to amuse your child, you could give him a wooden spoon or a stone“Said to the AFP puts Marie Hald, co-author of the study detailing the discovery, published in the scientific journal” Childhood in the past “.
But even at the time, the least DIY had a choice. “”Already 4,500 years ago, parents went to the market and bought toys manufactured by professionals“She explained.
The researchers discovered by chance in the collections of the National Museum of Denmark pieces of 19 clay complaints made in Hama, Syria, dating from the Bronze Age. It is the biggest collection of this type.
“”On the side of the fragments, we note that the inclusions in the clay are exactly the same as those found in ordinary pots, pots made by professionals“Explains the researcher.
According to her, the quality of the rattles excludes amateur manufacturing by the parents themselves.
She hopes that the study will allow professionals to look more carefully at the pieces of clay because other objects could turn out to be games, like some figurines.
“”They are often considered as cult figures placed in a temple (…) but we wonder if they are toys made for children, because there are a lot of variety and they seem very funny“, Details the researcher.
Mostly unearthed in the form of fragments, the toys, fragmented, are difficult to recognize.
The researchers have developed an identification guide specially designed to locate the rattles.