Ostriches today are only found in Africa. They are the
largest birds in the world. But did you know that ornaments made of ostrich
eggshells have been found in India too?!
Evidence has been found that ostriches roamed over most parts of Asia. Some places that they lived in were inner Mongolia, China, and Siberia. Ostriches also lived in India. They were hunted for their meat, and their eggs were eaten too. The eggs were yellowish white speckled with black. After eating the inside of the egg, they used to make the eggshell into ornaments like beads and discs.
The first remains of eggshells were found in the 1860s in the Banda district of Uttar Pradesh. Remains of eggshells have also been found in Patne, Maharashtra, Bhimbetka, Bhopal and Ramnagar, Madhya Pradesh and Chandresal, Rajasthan. Some beads also show criss-cross patterns on them that were made with human hands. A grave found in Bhimbetka in a rock shelter contained the body of a Stone-Ager. The Stone-Ager was wearing a necklace of beads. All the beads except the ones that were made of ostrich eggshell have disappeared.
Bushmen living in Southern Africa till recently had also been using ostrich eggshells to make vessels! Did you also know that ostrich eggshells cannot be broken by anything other than a hammer or saw?! We could name this necklace the “muscle man necklace”. I found this information in Upinder Singh's book, A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India from the Stone-Age to the 12th Century
Evidence has been found that ostriches roamed over most parts of Asia. Some places that they lived in were inner Mongolia, China, and Siberia. Ostriches also lived in India. They were hunted for their meat, and their eggs were eaten too. The eggs were yellowish white speckled with black. After eating the inside of the egg, they used to make the eggshell into ornaments like beads and discs.
The first remains of eggshells were found in the 1860s in the Banda district of Uttar Pradesh. Remains of eggshells have also been found in Patne, Maharashtra, Bhimbetka, Bhopal and Ramnagar, Madhya Pradesh and Chandresal, Rajasthan. Some beads also show criss-cross patterns on them that were made with human hands. A grave found in Bhimbetka in a rock shelter contained the body of a Stone-Ager. The Stone-Ager was wearing a necklace of beads. All the beads except the ones that were made of ostrich eggshell have disappeared.
Bushmen living in Southern Africa till recently had also been using ostrich eggshells to make vessels! Did you also know that ostrich eggshells cannot be broken by anything other than a hammer or saw?! We could name this necklace the “muscle man necklace”. I found this information in Upinder Singh's book, A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India from the Stone-Age to the 12th Century
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| Illustration by- 7 year old Diara |
Wow! Ostriches in India 😳Amazing discovery 👌👌👍🏻👍🏻👏👏
ReplyDeleteWow interesting to know. Nabanita
ReplyDelete