World’s oldest mattress discovered

Monday 28th May 2012

A mattress dating back 77,000 years has been found in South Africa, making it the oldest known example of human bedding. Uncovered by archaeologists at a sandstone cave in Sibudu, South Africa, the find reveals the complex nature of early peoples’ lifestyles and living habits.

The find is significantly older than the previous earliest-known mattress, which dated back around 30,000 years.

The mattress consisted of several layers of plants, rushes and grasses, some of which containing natural mosquito-repellent, and measured an enormous 22 square feet – large enough to comfortably sleep a group of people. Researchers from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg believe that the bedding was burned after a period of usage, and the easily-sourced natural materials allowed inhabitants to make fresh new mattresses when required.

Tags: mattress mattresses

Category: Industry News

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