Secret History
The "toy car" is on display alongside toy dolls and whistles - all made out of stone - at the Mardin Museum [map]. Archaeologist Mesut Alp reports that the toy car is at least 7,500 years old - dating back to the late Stone Age.
When speaking with the Cihan news agency and reporters with Todays Zaman, Alp insisted that the item is a toy car.
Culture and Tourism Director of Mardin, Davut Beliktay, confirmed that the exhibit piece as a 7,500-year-old toy car.
Beliktay said that the car is "like a copy" of cars today; adding that it also resembles a tractor. However, he didn't explain how a toy car could be 7,500 years old.
Commenting on the other ancient toys, he said: "We believe that the whistles and dolls are 5,000 to 6,000 years old. The whistles are still in working condition."
Beliktay told the press that comprehensive information regarding the 7,500-year-old toy car will be released soon.
While I think that anomalous history is interesting; I am thinking that this is a toy chariot, and not an inexplicable toy car. I wish they would explain exactly how they think they have a toy car that is thousands of years old, and not a toy chariot, which is far more plausible.
Of course I am only judging by what I see in online pictures. I suppose this could be regarded as compelling evidence of time travel, or other-worldly visitors.
What do you think: Does the museum have the world's oldest toy car? Or could it be a model chariot, or something else?
Reader Comments
the museums there are full of fakes. Theres a thriving fakes market, and they are aware of it, and know half their 'artifacts' are fakes: but its a thriving trade, and money changes hands a lot, so its not stopping any time soon. This is obviously to garner attention, and shouldnt be taken seriously, as it pollutes actual historical findings. The guys said 'its a car' and thats STUPID. no 'its probably a chariot'?? really?? a car. a 7,500 year old car. did it run on gas? because currently, its running on bullshit.
... carrozza carrier - perhaps the turkish language has only one noun for car and chariot?
car (kär)
n.
1. An automobile.
2. A vehicle, such as a streetcar, that runs on rails: a railroad car.
3. A boxlike enclosure for passengers and freight on a conveyance: an elevator car.
4. The part of a balloon or airship that carries people and cargo.
5. Archaic A chariot, carriage, or cart.
See number 5.
How could they put an age on a stone object ??? Yes, children played then, too but I guess the man wanted to have his photograph printed. In Harbiye (old name Daphne) near where I was born, lots of people made stone or metal objects resembling old byzantine relics and buried them in the ground for some time to give an older look, then sold them. I still have a metal fake coin.
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...see the four wheels? Chariots have only two, notice the heavy duty rear axle and the cab where the driver/ passengers sit. Looks like something Barney Rubble would drive, lol.