Bone Voyage! Ancient Ice Skate Unearthed in the Czech Republic

27th March, 2024 CHIRANJIT MITRA CHIRANJIT MITRA

[{"selector":"#anim-3e50dc5b-8458-426c-bce6-e8b18c012b8b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-23.59583707701048%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-513d5fdf-8839-4b53-bdea-e46e921a7a63","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1e579429-6148-4500-aaca-ced4500e691d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Forget metal blades! Archaeologists discovered a surprisingly well-preserved ice skate made of animal bone. Learn more

[{"selector":"#anim-6fee3fcf-d9cb-453b-8be5-891dc901eb70 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(20.88212203550298%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a1d1df56-8cde-47f9-a28b-e674946fee01","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d9d15183-165c-46e0-925b-3808fb8aa13a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] The unique find was unearthed during a routine excavation in the basement of a home in Přerov, Czech Republic.

[{"selector":"#anim-4cc5780f-ad37-41c5-8a37-86a5bbd319b5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(17.939906413218313%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d2367218-3ee3-4deb-9beb-64d6e3d05463","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-504dc335-a723-4ce7-a25a-1fd1242e34ef","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] This curved bone with drilled holes, likely strapped to a shoe or sled, offers a glimpse into winter travel of the past.

[{"selector":"#anim-6ec95955-5942-46b9-9dea-3f978404b3bb [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-22.825876597330307%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-07007076-e599-4def-8dab-298c655523b9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-79d57b01-c76d-423a-ba14-606cd8608c0e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Radiocarbon dating suggests the ice skate is roughly 1,000 years old.

[{"selector":"#anim-4d5859ef-df75-499d-a0a8-c7920c60995c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-24.029744617181876%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f8a8429d-0d37-421f-b141-6c19d6541332","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f13b50d8-37df-42b5-9c9a-d53a0cf04ad8","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Similar bone skates have been found in Europe, suggesting a widespread technology for icy landscapes.

[{"selector":"#anim-f998f775-825c-4b01-a11a-b041d1fcd20b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-42.98641758573055%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-70418506-6d36-4aa1-b291-92c919691a5c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aaf3cbf3-0d1c-4415-b0c4-2aad8a8ab391","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] This discovery sheds light on how people navigated frozen terrain centuries ago.

[{"selector":"#anim-e6bf2815-cde3-42d2-a3a5-0015936baec9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-15.501985691836154%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dfa2aedd-b598-434b-9ac1-32319d98181e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-96c8e767-ccce-4aa9-a0d4-0f2cf865220f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Imagine gliding across the ice with this innovative, natural tool. Learn more

[{"selector":"#anim-53847acb-aa9b-43f1-8bcd-492c1ec4b031 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-51.25432966624827%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b278f794-92fa-47a4-95c3-fec905cd2107","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f8c4b359-fc3d-46b4-96d3-86037543ee11","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] The past keeps surprising us! This bone skate is a reminder of human ingenuity and resourcefulness. Learn more