A 200,000-Year-Old Human Bed Made From Grass and Ash
Evidence like stone tools, butchered bones, fire pits, and cave paintings provide a glimpse into the past, but archaeologists often struggle to uncover some of the more mundane aspects of prehistoric life. This is why the discovery of rudimentary beds at a rock shelter in the Lebombo Mountains near South Africa and Eswatini was so important, as it showed how humans slept some 227,000 years ago. These beds were made from bundles of grass placed atop a layer of ash. In addition to providing comfort and a clean insulating surface, this setup kept the bugs away, as ash repels crawling insects. Beds like these were often burned to rid the campsite of pests and then topped off with a fresh layer of grass.
