17 Oldest Historical Things Ever Found

For every item we take for granted, there was an ancestor, long, long ago. These unique pieces of our history as a species show us the remarkable journey we’ve made, over thousands, and tens of thousands of years, to reach this point in our technology and our abilities. We may think a lot of the stuff we know was recently invented, but some go back so far, their origins are lost in the fogs of ancient history…

The Oldest Socks – 1,500 years ago

These snazzy wool socks were designed to be worn with sandals for an ultra fashionable look in Ancient Egypt, and were found during the 19th century.

The Oldest Recipe – 5,000 years ago

Surprisingly, or maybe not so much, the oldest recipe known to be written down is this slab that contains a recipe for very strong beer that contains chunks of bread floating in it.

The Oldest Sunglasses – 800 years ago

The oldest sunglasses in history were found in Canada, and were actually designed to protect the wearer from the glare of the snow, which can blind travelers at times.

Oldest Human Sculpture – 35-40k years ago

This incredibly ancient piece of art is called the ‘Venus of Hohle’ by archaeologists, and is the oldest statue of a human figure, depicting a woman of generous proportions, what at that time was probably considered a symbol of fertility and eroticism. It was found in Germany.

The Oldest Shoe – 5,500 years ago

This ancient moccasin was found in a cave in Armenia, and is probably over 5,000 years old. The left shoe was never found, and has probably crumbled a long time ago, while the right shoe was protected by grass and dry sheep dung.

The Oldest Musical Instrument – 40,000 years ago

This flute is made of vulture bone, and is over 40,000 years old. Just goes to show music has been a part of human culture for a very long time! It was found in Germany.

The Oldest Pants – 3,300 years ago

I love my old pairs of pants, but a 3,300 year old pair of pants is a bit much, even for me. It was found in Western China.

The Oldest Toilets You Could Flush – 2,000 years ago

These ‘flushing’ toilets, found in Turkey, had running water below the seats that continuously carried the waste away into a nearby river. A terrific design and a prelude to what we have today, 2,000 years later.