The adorable cat phenomenon of ‘biscuit making’ has taken social media by storm in recent years, with some owners dressing their kittens in bakery hats and coats and filming the process. It’s adorable, and watching the cats paw at blankets, couches, pillows, or stuffed animals (often shaped like baked goods) and get carried away is great for parents and viewers alike. It’s a great pleasure.
Recently, it was discovered that this behavior is not unique to modern domestic cats. Fragments of a 1,200-year-old water pitcher discovered by archaeologists in Jerusalem contain evidence of a small cat making biscuits, making it the oldest evidence of this behavior.
The imprint was noticed on a pottery shard during post-excavation work in the lab by lab director Gretchen Cotter.
Dr Simon GibsonArchaeologists at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, who co-supervised the excavation at Mount Zion that revealed the discovery, said, “The claws were extended and left deep marks, so this mark was not just a resting foot, but a kneading one.” The research team believes that this is true.” on the clay surface. What we can do is [imagine] It purred as it absorbed the Jerusalem sun. ”1
It is believed that the relaxed cat left prints on freshly made jugs before being fired in a kiln and used to carry liquids such as water, wine, and olive oil. At the time of “biscuit making”, the surface of the jug was still wet and appears to have been malleable.
A claw-like discovery
Fragments of a pitcher with a depiction of a kitten were recovered from the site of an ancient residential area, near the traditional summit of Mount Zion in the southwest hills. Dr. Gibson roughly dates the pitcher fragments to the 9th century, based on the discovery of other pottery that the archeology team has positively identified as dating from the Abbasid period (750-1258 AD). He explained that he was able to figure it out.2 This is not the first time archaeologists in the area have found cat traces during excavations. Cat fossils dating back more than 9,000 years have been discovered. 10,000 year old cat sculpture.
Dr Gibson said: “There are plenty of footprints, but no claw or knead marks.”
Archaeologists also found numerous tiny fingerprints on pottery shards at the Mount Zion site, likely left by the children of potters who often helped attach bottle handles. The fragments of the water jug with cat kneading marks are currently being processed and will soon be handed over to Israeli authorities for further decisions on preservation and display.
kneeless people say that all the time I practiced kitty’s friends
There are many theories as to why cats knead, ranging from comfort to expressions of affection, but instinct is generally the most likely explanation. Discovering these 1200-year-old ancient footprints reminds us that some of our favorite cat behaviors are actually rooted in cat history across time and place. The act of kneading is more than just an adorable habit, it connects our beloved cats with their ancient ancestors, and us with our ancestors. After all, these marks are a reminder of the timeless bond between humans and their biscuit-making kitty friends.
Featured image credit: Simon Gibson/Mount Zion Expedition; Source from Live ScienceAll rights reserved to copyright holders.
