We enjoy quite a few unprecedented technologies today, but much more of the stuff that we use has been around for ages. Ancient humans may not have been able to text or upload selfies, but they enjoyed everyday objects like flushable toilets, chewing gum and nice purses just like we do.
Inspired by imgur's post, we decided to make an extended list of the oldest examples of everyday objects. Keep in mind that these are only the oldest surviving examples of these objects – many of these may have existed or are known to have existed even earlier.
Oldest Socks (1,500 years old)
These Egyptian wool socks, designed to go with sandals, were knitted between 300 and 499 AD and found in the 19th century. (Image credits: wikipedia.org)
Oldest Written Recipe (5,000 years old)
"A Sumerian Beer recipe dating back to 3000 BC. The result beer is very strong and would contain chunks of bread floating around in it." (Image credits: imgur.com)
Oldest Sunglasses (800 years old)
The world's oldest sunglasses were discovered on Baffin Island in Canada. They were snow goggles, designed to reduce the sun's glare reflecting from the snow. (Image credits: canadacool.com)
Oldest Sculpture Of A Human Form (35,000 - 40,000 years old)
At 35,000-40,000 years old, Venus of Hohle is the oldest statue depicting a human figure. This mammoth-ivory figurine was found in Germany. (Image credits: wikipedia.org)
Oldest Shoe (5,500 years old)
This 5,500-year-old cowhide moccasin was found in a cave in Armenia, preserved by grass and dry sheep dung. The left shoe was not found. (Image credits: news.nationalgeographic.com)
Oldest Instrument (40,000 years old)
This 40,000-year-old vulture-bone flute was found in southern Germany. Some scientists believe that music may have given our ancestors a strategic advantage over Neanderthals. (Image credits: nytimes.com)
Oldest Pants (3,300 years old)
The oldest pair of pants in the world is 3,300 years old, and it was found in Western China. (Image credits: M Wagner/German Archaeological Institute)
Oldest "Flush" Toilets (2,000 years old)
Ephesus, an ancient city in Turkey, had “flushing” toilets. Running water below the seats carried waste away into a nearby river. (Image credits: chroniclesoflindsay.blogspot.com)
Oldest Brassiere (500 years old)
This bra was used between 1390 and 1485 in Austria. Earlier historical descriptions for “breast bags” do exist, but they had never been seen. (Image credits: theatlantic.com)
Oldest Prosthetic (3,000 years old)
This 3,000-year-old prosthetic was used to help someone in Egypt walk again. Tests carried out with a replica proved that it was a working, practical prosthetic, not just a cosmetic one. (Image credits: bbc.com)
Oldest Purse (4,500 years old)
These dog teeth are all that remain of a disintegrated purse from roughly 4,500 years ago found in Germany. They were likely part of the outer flap. (Image credits: Klaus Bentele, LDA Halle)
Oldest Condom (370 years old)
This sheepskin condom was used in 1640 in Sweden. The reusable condom came with instructions (in Latin) to clean it with warm milk to prevent users from catching STDs. (Image credits: genreauthor.blogspot.com)
Oldest Chewing Gum (5,000 years old)
This chewing gum from Finland was chewed at least 5,000 years ago. The gum consists of birch bark, and was most likely used to heal mouth infections or to use as glue. (Image credits: metro.co.uk)
The Oldest Recorded Melody (3,400 years old)
The oldest surviving written melody was found in Ugarit, which is now part of Northern Syria. The music was written for the lyre. (Image credits: ancientlyre.com)
Oldest Coin (2,700 years old)
The oldest known coin was found in the ancient Hellenic city of Efesos in Turkey. Its one (and only) decorated side features a lion's head. (Image credits: fleur-de-coin.com)
Oldest Globe (510 years old)
This old globe was painstakingly etched into the surface of an ostrich egg in Italy. Before its age and origin were verified, it had been sold to its current owner at a map fair in London in 2012. (Image credits: Washington Map Society)