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From Bartering to Coinage: The ancient Kingdom of Lydia introduces the first coins made from electrum, revolutionizing the economic system and fostering global trade.
The Kish Tablet, dating back to around 3500 BCE, represents the earliest known example of proto-cuneiform signs and the development of the Sumerian writing system.
UR 501, the oldest known human fossil, a jawbone from the Homo rudolfensis group, sheds light on the migration route and evolutionary origins of early Homo in Central Africa, dating back 2.5 to 2.3 million years ago.
Ancient Lomekwi artifacts challenge the notion of exclusive human toolmaking, dating back 3.3 million years and suggesting early hominids like Australopithecus or Kenyanthropus possessed toolmaking skills.
Lake Zaysan in Kazakhstan, believed to be at least 65 million years old and potentially even older, is one of the world's oldest lakes, surpassing the commonly cited Lake Baikal.
Stromatolites: Oldest visible organisms, 3.5 billion years old, formed from cyanobacteria fossils, played a crucial role in early life on Earth.
Controversial discovery of nearly 4 billion-year-old hematite tubes resembling early organisms, indicating the possibility of early life on Earth, although subject to debate among scientists.
Jack Hills zircon crystals: Oldest known rocks on Earth, dating back approximately 4.375 billion years, revealing early Earth's conditions and challenging previous assumptions about its inhospitability.
Makhonjwa Mountains: World's oldest range, 3.6 billion years old, famous for gold deposits and early fossils.
The Geisenklösterle Flutes, crafted from bird bone and mammoth ivory, are the oldest definitively identified musical instruments, dating back 42,000 to 43,000 years ago, offering insights into early human recreation and religious practices.