Two remarkable discoveries reshape our view of the Stone Age
Archaeologists have unveiled startling finds from the distant past: a piece of chewing gum found in a Stone Age site, believed to have been chewed by a teenage girl, and evidence of an ancient sunscreen that may have helped early modern humans endure long sunlit days more than 40,000 years ago. Together, these discoveries shed light on daily life, health practices, and survival strategies in the deep past.
The gum that connects us with a teenager from the Stone Age
In a carefully preserved layer of a Paleolithic site, researchers recovered material that looks like modern chewing gum. Lab analyses suggest it was chewed, possibly as a form of oral maintenance or as part of a ritual or social behavior among adolescents. While the exact age remains a topic for ongoing study, the team’s preliminary assessment points to a teenager as the likely consumer of the gum. This finding is prompting scientists to reconsider how everyday items functioned in youth culture long before writing or agriculture.
“Having access to the team’s research was a really magical moment,” said one of the archaeologists involved. “This shows how one throwaway item can bring us face to face with the people of the past. We now know people chewed…” The statement captures the excitement of linking a tiny artifact to the broader human experience, highlighting how small remnants can illuminate a life lived tens of thousands of years ago.
Ancient sunscreen: a survival tool that protected early humans
Another remarkable discovery concerns an ancient practice that protected people from sun exposure long before modern cosmetics existed. Evidence points to the use of plant-based substances with UV-blocking properties, suggesting early humans understood the link between sunlight, skin health, and survival. This sunscreen presence may have contributed to the successful expansion of modern humans into sunlit landscapes across Africa, Eurasia, and beyond, allowing travel and settlement in regions with intense solar radiation.
Researchers argue that such knowledge would have been particularly valuable as populations moved into new latitudes and climates. The sunscreen traces reinforce the idea that our ancestors actively managed risks in their environment, adapting tools and substances to support daily life, health, and mobility.
Why these finds matter for our understanding of the Stone Age
These discoveries together paint a richer portrait of Stone Age people. They weren’t only hunter-gatherers relying on meat and berries; they also used everyday items and health practices to navigate social life, personal care, and environmental challenges. The gum, possibly chewed by a young person, hints at social rituals, oral health strategies, or even personal preferences. The sunscreen evidence shows that early humans engaged in proactive health and protection, a precursor to later cosmetic and medical traditions.
What the team hopes to learn next
Ongoing analyses aim to identify the exact materials, origins, and uses of the gum and sunscreen substances. Is the gum a byproduct of a broader ritual or a practical tool for dental cleaning? Was the sunscreen made from local plants or imported ingredients? Answers to these questions will require interdisciplinary collaboration across archaeology, chemistry, and anthropology. As researchers piece together these clues, they hope to illuminate not only what ancient people did, but why they did it—and how such practices connected to larger migrations, cultural developments, and daily life.
Implications for the public and future research
These findings captivate both scholars and the public by turning abstract prehistoric life into tangible human stories. They remind us that the Stone Age was full of ingenuity, social complexity, and adaptive strategies. As more sites are excavated and analyzed with advanced techniques, we can expect a more nuanced understanding of how early humans lived, learned, and thrived in a changing world.
