Unlock the Shocking Truth About Kissing – Did You Know It Dates Back Over 4,500 Years and Could Have Contributed to the Spread of Cold Sores?
People were kissing 4,500 years ago – 1,000 years earlier than scientists thought
By studying clay tablets from the earliest Mesopotamian societies, researchers say kissing was common and did not start in a specific region. They believe it may even have contributed to the spread of cold sores. Scientists say they’ve found evidence ancient humans began kissing around 4,500 years ago – 1,000 years earlier than was previously thought.
Clay tablets, used in parts of modern-day Iraq and Syria, suggest kissing was practised in the earliest Mesopotamian societies and may even have contributed to the spread of cold sores.
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen say they now believe kissing was common across many cultures rather than starting in a specific region.
This contradicts a previous hypothesis that the earliest evidence of human lip kissing came from a specific part of southern Asia 3,500 years ago.
The evidence is from clay tablets written in cuneiform script, writing used by human cultures in ancient Mesopotamia between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in present-day Iraq and Syria.
Among the tablets showing such a scene was a Babylonian clay model showing an erotic scene from 1800 BC, which appears to show a couple’s lips touching.
Dr Troels Pank Arboll, an expert on the history of medicine in Mesopotamia at the University of Copenhagen, said: “Many thousands of these clay tablets have survived to this day, and they contain clear examples that kissing was considered a part of romantic intimacy in ancient times, just as kissing could be part of friendships and family members’ relations.
“Therefore, kissing should not be regarded as a custom that originated exclusively in any single region and spread from there but rather appears to have been practised in multiple ancient cultures over several millennia.”
Studies on bonobos and chimpanzees – the closest living relatives to humans – have shown they engage in kissing.
This suggests the practice of kissing is a fundamental behaviour in humans and explains why it can be found across cultures, the scientists said.
The researchers also said kissing may have accidentally helped spread viruses such as herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), which causes cold sores.
From a substantial collection of the Mesopotamian medical texts, they found some of them “mention a disease with symptoms reminiscent of the herpes simplex virus 1,” Dr Arboll said.
But he added that ancient medical texts can be influenced by cultural and religious concepts so they cannot be read at face value.
Dr Arboll said the team found some similarities between the disease known as buʾshanu in ancient medical texts from Mesopotamia and the symptoms caused by herpes simplex infections.
He said: “The bu’shanu disease was located primarily in or around the mouth and throat, and symptoms included vesicles in or around the mouth, which is one of the dominant signs of herpes infection.”
More
Did you know that people were kissing 4,500 years ago? Yes, that’s right, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Copenhagen has found evidence that ancient humans began kissing around 1,000 years earlier than previously believed. By studying clay tablets from the earliest Mesopotamian societies, they found that kissing was common and may have even contributed to the spread of cold sores.
Contrary to previous beliefs, the researchers now believe that kissing was common across many cultures rather than starting in a specific region. Among the tablets showing such an intimate scene was a Babylonian clay model from 1800 BC, which appears to show a couple’s lips touching.
This finding suggests that kissing is a fundamental behaviour in humans, which is why it can be found across cultures. However, the researchers also found evidence that kissing may have accidentally helped spread viruses such as herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), which causes cold sores. Ancient medical texts from Mesopotamia mention a disease with symptoms similar to herpes simplex, which may have been caused by kissing.
This study offers a unique insight into the origins of kissing and its evolution over time. As a reader, you can now impress your friends with this newfound knowledge and contribute to the ongoing conversation about human behaviour and history. So, what are you waiting for? Share this fascinating discovery with your friends and family today!
Furthermore, the study on bonobos and chimpanzees, the closest living relatives to humans, has also shown that they engage in kissing. This reinforces the idea that kissing has been a part of human behaviour for several millennia and was not limited to a particular region.
As you may know, kissing has been associated with romantic intimacy, friendships, and family relations. The study’s findings suggest that many cultures throughout history have used kissing as a way to express intimacy and affection. Therefore, we should not view kissing as a custom that originated from a single region and spread from there.
The evidence found on the clay tablets opens up new avenues for research and understanding of ancient human behaviour and traditions. The study provides us with a glimpse into the past, giving us a deeper insight into the origins of human behaviour and the evolution of cultures.
This ground-breaking study sheds new light on the history of kissing and human behaviour. It provides us with a unique opportunity to learn more about our ancient ancestors and their practices. So, spread the word about this fascinating discovery, and let’s continue to explore and understand the depths of human behaviour.
