- ITALY (Sapa-dpa) -- Archaeologists
have discovered the remains of a 4,000-year-old doll, thought to be the
world's oldest toy, Milan's Corriere della Sera newspaper reported on Thursday.
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- The doll's head, discovered during excavations on the
southern island of Pantelleria, is about four centimetres long, with carved
facial features and a curly head of hair.
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- Experts have dubbed the significant find the "Barbie
of the Bronze Age".
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- "The body was made out of wood or material and was
not preserved," said head archaeologist Sebastino Tusa.
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- Archaeologists made the find while examining the remnants
of a hut on a Bronze Age settlement.
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- They say the doll's head clearly belonged to a toy and
the find proves that during this era dolls were used as play items and
not just gifts to gods, as commonly believed.
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- Miniature pots and plates were found close to the doll's
head, possibly the utensils of an ancient toy kitchen.
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- "The playing habits of children have barely changed
in 4 000 years," said one of archaeology team.
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- - Edited by Ilse Arendse
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