Key Takeaways:
– An 8200-year-old kohl applicator discovered in Izmir’s Yeşilova Höyük Mound.
– The find underscores the value placed on grooming and beauty in early Aegean civilizations.
– Excavations date the location’s occupation to around 8500 years ago.
In an impressive archaeological finding, an 8200-year-old eyeliner or ‘kohl’ applicator, made from stone, was recently discovered at Yeşilova Höyük Mound in Izmir’s Bornova district. The excavation, a testament to centuries-old grooming habits, suggests that people in ancient civilizations were surprisingly conscious of their appearance.
Dating the Mound and Its Inhabitants
This archaeological finding is significant, pushing the occupation’s date of the area back to around 8500 years ago, approximately 6500 BC. The excavation effectively shed light on Neolithic Age life. Insights into the culture and habitat of these early Aegean settlers have been gained through this evidence.
Unlike Çatalhöyük in central Anatolia, where houses are tightly packed, people living in this region had separate homes equipped with distinct roofing systems, as revealed by Arkeonews.
Decoding Antiquities: Eyeliner Applicator and More
The excavation has been in progress since 2005 and is backed by Türkiye’s Culture and Tourism Ministry, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, Bornova Municipality, and Ege University. Additionally, archaeologists are examining the nearby Yassıtepe Mound. The findings from these two sites are enlightening about historical settlements in the Izmir area.
Zafer Derin, the excavation leader and a professor at Ege University, declared that this stone kohl applicator, which is about 9.5 centimeters long, is the oldest of its kind ever found. This tool, resembling a sharpened pencil, was used for applying cosmetics, a tradition still prevalent in parts of Anatolia today.
Unveiling Beauty Standards of Ancient Izmir
Moreover, the black residue on the kohl applicator—believed to be manganese oxide, a key ingredient in kohl—has been sent for analysis. This critical find indicates the high importance Aegean people placed on cosmetic enhancement, particularly of the eyes. Not only did personal beautification reflect cultural ties to the environment, but jewelry was also indicative of social status.
Other objects such as ornamental vessels found in the region further reinforce this hypothesis. They suggest that personal grooming and vanity were integral parts of their lives. Artifacts like beads, seashells, and bone necklaces likely served as jewelry and symbolized the connections these communities had with the coastal and inland populations with whom they interacted and traded.
Living and Grooming Habits
The discovery of separated homes in these Aegean Neolithic settlements suggests a higher degree of privacy and individual home life, allowing women to concentrate on self-care and beauty.
Burial customs from these Neolithic societies show that grave goods, including jewelry and personal ornaments, were often buried with the deceased. This emphasizes that beauty and adornment were not only important in life but also held symbolic significance after death.
In conclusion, the traditions of self-care and beauty routines evident through these findings extend thousands of years, reflecting the sustained legacy of such practices in the region.