Child's 4000-Year-Old Rattle Unearthed in Siberia

Archaeologists in Siberia have found a child's 4,000-year-old toy at the location of a Bronze Age settlement, reported The Siberian Times. The remarkable discovery of the rattle, shaped like the head of a baby bear, was made by securing tiny stones together. The plaything is still working and remains sealed for archaeologists to X-ray and scan in order to find the technique by which it jiggles even after four millenia, explained Vyacheslav Molodin, an archaeologist at the Novosibirsk Institute of Archaeology. According to reports, the toy was found at the Vengerovo-2 archaeological complex and may be between 3,800 and 4,000 years old.

The clay rattle has an apparent well-made handle that is good enough for the child to hold, said Professor Molodin. It was built by the firing of clay and is hollow within, with tiny stones present in it. The team was unable to identify the type of stones used and will be conducting further examinations to know more about the sensational find. The archaeologists stated that the ornament bears a stamp, which includes a drawing made by an artist on wet clay, possibly with the help of bone.

Archaeologists also found over 50 burials and approximately 100 ritual pits at the same spot that consisted of two housing sites where ancient Siberians resided. Another discovery was a tiny bronze figurine symbolizing an incense stand and was shaped like a crow, according to Dr. Molodin. Most of the toys that Siberian children enjoyed playing with were similar to the toys of the present day. In August 2016, another 4,200-year-old rattle was discovered in Turkey, as reported by Ancient Origins.

A toy rattle is produced mainly for the amusement of infants. They have been used for this purpose since times immemorial and are claimed to help the kids improve hand-eye coordination by enhancing their senses. They can be made of cloth, plastic, or wood.