World's Oldest Smiley Face Discovered

In a groundbreaking archaeological discovery, a 3,700-year-old pitcher found in the ancient Hittite city of Karkemish, located along the Turkish-Syrian border, features what is now believed to be the world's oldest known smiley face. This faint smiley face, composed of a simple curved line for a smile and two dots for eyes, was uncovered by a team of Turkish and Italian archaeologists who have been excavating the site for several years. The pitcher was found in a burial chamber beneath a house and was likely used for drinking a sweet, sherbet-like beverage. Nicolo Marchetti, an associate professor at the University of Bologna and the head of the excavation, noted that the smiling face has no parallels in ancient ceramic art from the region, making it a unique and significant find. He remarked, “The smiling face is undoubtedly there (there are no other traces of painting on the flask) and has no parallels in ancient ceramic art of the area.”1

The discovery is particularly remarkable because it predates by several millennia what was previously considered the oldest smiley face, a 17th-century drawing found in Slovakia. This ancient "emoji" challenges our understanding of how symbols representing human emotions have been used throughout history.2

The excavation at Karkemish has been ongoing for seven summers and has unearthed numerous artifacts, including urns, pots, and other ceramics that provide valuable insights into the daily lives of the Hittites, a culture known primarily for their military prowess and historical conflicts with the Israelites and Egyptians.3 Despite the Hittites' reputation as warriors, this discovery of a cheery smiley face on a mundane object suggests a lighter side to their culture that has rarely been seen before.4

Once restored, the smiley-faced pitcher will be displayed at the Gaziantep Museum of Archaeology, offering visitors the opportunity to see and even photograph this one-of-a-kind artifact. Plans are also underway to transform the Karkemish site into an archaeological park, where visitors can explore the remains of the ancient city and its treasures.5

References

  1. McKernan, Bethan. "'World’s Oldest Smiley Emoji' Discovered in Turkey." The Independent, 20 July 2017, p. 31. Accessed 26 Aug. 2024, www.newspapers.com/article/the-independent-worlds-oldest-smiley-e/154053754/.
  2. Voon, Claire. "Was the Oldest Smiley Found on a 3,700-Year-Old Jug?" Hyperallergic, 20 July 2017, www.hyperallergic.com/391472/was-the-oldest-smiley-found-on-a-3700-year-old-jug/. Accessed 26 Aug. 2024.
  3. Daley, Jason. "World’s Oldest Smiley Face May Decorate a Hittite Jug: Researchers Did Not Notice the Cheery, 3,700-Year-Old Expression until They Restored the Ceramic." Smithsonian Magazine, 24 July 2017, www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/worlds-oldest-smiley-face-found-hittite-jug-180964177/. Accessed 26 Aug. 2024.
  4. Geggel, Laura. "History's 1st Emoji? Ancient Pitcher Shows a Smiley Face." Live Science, 21 July 2017, www.livescience.com/59895-oldest-known-smiley-face-emoji.html. Accessed 26 Aug. 2024.
  5. Daley, Jason. "World’s Oldest Smiley Face May Decorate a Hittite Jug: Researchers Did Not Notice the Cheery, 3,700-Year-Old Expression until They Restored the Ceramic." Smithsonian Magazine, 24 July 2017, www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/worlds-oldest-smiley-face-found-hittite-jug-180964177/. Accessed 26 Aug. 2024.

'World’s oldest smiley emoji' discovered in Turkey

Article from Jul 20, 2017 The Independent (London, Greater London, England) Smiley

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Smiley/Happy Face Diagram [Language: smile button, smile face, smiling face, smiley face, smiley, Smiley as a name (first name, nicknames, character names, stage names, surname, pet names, place names, object names) etc.] [Campaigns(advertising happiness, political, etc), cartoons, commentary, emojis, commercial use, and sales.] [Art work, iconography, symbols, pareidolia (E.g. Galle [a Martian crater]), etc.] [Pop culture]

Smiley/Happy Face Diagram
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